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BY JOEL H. ROSS, M. D., 

AUTHOR OF ''HINTS 4- HELPS TO HEALTH 4- HAP PINES S,''> ^c 



AUBURN, N. Y. : 

DERBY & MILLER, 



185 1. 






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3osj.^ 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851., 

By JOEL H. ROSS, M. D. 

In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States of the Southern 
District of New-York. 










n 




PIIEFACE. 



The author, in holding up to view a brief outline 
of" City Sights" and scenes, would acknowledge his 
indebtedness to those individuals who have so kindly 
contributed to the accomplishment of his object ; 
while he would not forget the Press, that ever pro- 
lific source of sights and sounds from whence many 
appropriate and useful hints have been derived for 
the present occasion. 

The reader is doubtless aware that it often requires 
much more labor, to present facts than fiction. 
And, that it is not unfrequently more difficult still, 
to make the former so acceptable as the latter. 
This may be emphatically true, in regard to the 
following volume ; as a less flattering account of 
civic advantages, than some may naturally expect, 
must be given, if the dark side of the picture is not 
to be altogether concealed. 

In presenting a variety of topics which must neces- 
sarily embrace objects more or less attractive and re- 
pulsive, new and old, good and bad ; the author does 
not aim or care to observe any very nice arrange- 
ment of subjects, while he is well aware that he has 
left altogether unnoticed many interesting appen- 
dages of New- York. 



IV PREFACE. 



Perhaps some may be little interested in the 
statistics herein embraced, while it is presumed that 
to others such information will be the most welcome. 

Moreover, the author has possibly moralized a 
little too much to harmonize with the taste of some ; 
but the reader will be reminded that the writer begs 
to be excused from asking when to obey the injunc- 
tion, " Say ye to the righteous, it shall be well with 
him," or " Woe to the wicked, it shall be ill with him." 
For each and all, however, he has endeavored to 
collect a variety of matter, and to the majority it is 
hoped that it will be acceptable. 

But, whether too grave or too humorous, to brief 
or too diffuse, too checkered or too plain — whether 
too much or too little method has been observed—in 
short, whatever may be its faults or its merits ; to 
give a bird's eye view of city life (though to a limited 
extent) as it exists in New- York, is the design of the 
work, without intending to encumber the reader with 
the rubbish o^ fancy ^ presuming that plain, unvar- 
mshedi facts ^ if any thing, are wanted, and especially 
by those who reside out of town. These, to say the 
least, have been obtained at no inconsiderable pains, 
and no little satisfaction ; and the pleasure which 
the writer has experienced in their collation, it is 
hoped may be correspondingly enjoyed by the reader. 



32 Amity-street, 

New-York, 1851, 



INDEX 









Page. 


Alms' 


House Department, 


, , 


. Ill 


Asylum, Lunatic, 


• • 


117 


« 


Orphan, 


• • 


. 283 


a 


Colored Orphan, 


• • 


119 


a 


Half 


, , 


. 284 


a 


for the Blind, . 


• 


289 


a 


'•' Deaf and Dumb, 


, , 


. 293 


Amer 


lean Bible Society, 


, , 


261 


(( 


Home i\ii8sionary Society 


. 265 


a 


Tract Society, 




268 


u 


Museum, 




. 184 


« 


Institute, 




185 


a 


Art-Union, 




. 189 


Am MS 


ements, 




183 


a 


Importance of, 




• 75 


Amusing Hospital Operation, . 




125 


Allan 


:ic Forge, 




. 206 


Beggar, Colored Female, 




44 


«i 


" Blind, . 




. 48 


(( 


Polite, 




57 


a 


Juvenile, 




. 60 


(( 


Boarding Houses, 




63 


Blind 


Sailor, .... 




. 51 


Begging for the Temperance Pledge, . 


99 


Bellevue Hospilal, . 


• • 


• 114 



VI 



[NDEX. 



Broadwa}', . 

Bright Spots, 

Brown Stone-cutters, , 

Bad Beginning, 

Bible Society House, , 

" Translation of, 

" Total Number of, 

" Importance of, 
City Hall, . 
Custom House, 
City Functionaries, 
Croton Water Department, 
Chimney Sweep, 
Cow Bay, 
City Prisons, 
Colored Home, 
City Hospital, 
Country Citizens, advice to, 
Changes for the better, 
Cand}', too much. 
Challenge for the World, . . 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, 
Churches, ..... 
Columbia College, 
Dispensaries, public, 
Dreams not realized, 
Dissertation on Matrimony, 
Dandy on Horseback, 
Diversity of Circumstances, 
Death-bed Scenes, . 

'* of a Stranger, 

" of a remarkable boy. 



rXDEX. 



vu 



Directories imperfect, . 

Eye and Ear Infirmary, 

Exchange of houses, 

Fire Department, 

First Lesson, 

Five Points, 

Fond of Change, 

Foolsbane, 

Feeding the World, 

Foreign Missions, 

Gambling, 

Great Attraction, 

Gas Works, 

Greenwood Cemetery, 

Hints to Females, 

Hard Luck, 

House-keepers, 

Hard Question, 

Harper & Brothers' Publishing 

Impostor, 

Intelligence-Office, 

Juvenile Street-sweepers, 

Journey by Candle-light, 

Lamps, 

Lottery-Office, 

Lustre, 

Literary Institutions, 

" and Medical Colleges, 

Libraries, 

Library, Mercantile, 

" New- York Society, 
" '* Historical, 



Vlll 



INI5EX. 



Lil)rary, Astor, 

Merchants' Exchange, 

Monied Institutions, 

Milk Statistics, 

May-Day, 

JMoiive Power, 

Manufactory of R. Hoe & Co., 

Methodist Book Concern, 

Method of Instructing the Deaf and Dumb 

Manual Alphabet, 

Nursery Establishment, 

New-York Musquitoes, 

Novelty Works, 

New- Years, 

Omnibuses, 

Old Match Factor}^, 

" Brewery, 
Organization for the Poor, 
Parks, 
Pavements, 

Population of the City, 
Public Buildings, 
Post-Oftice, 
Police Department, 
Penitentiary, 

*' Hospital, 
Parties, 
Pyramid, 
Pests, 

Pork-makers, , 

Press, 

" Cylinder, 



INDP.X. 



IX 



Professions and callings, 
Periodicals, 
Rag-Pickers, . 
Rum, effects of, . 
Reckless Driving, . 
Running the Gantlet, . • 

Religious Societies, • 

Railroads, . . . • 
Streets, . . . 

" Cleaning, . 
Sireet Benevolence, • 

Sugar Discipline, 
Sold to the Devil, 
Schools. Common, . » 

Stretching Conscience, 
Studjdng Human Nature, . 
Subject for Barnum, 
Splendors of the Greenhouse, 
Scene in an Omnibus, 
Street Impediments, 
Shoe-shop, . • 

Specimens of Names, . 
Seminary, Theological General, 

" ' " Union, 

The Town, 
Thoroughfares, 
The Tombs, . . 

Temperance in the Old Brewery, 
Cow Bay, 
Meeting, 
Trying to be a Nabob, 



78, 



INDEX. 



Page. 

Theatres, 183 

Tract House, 268 

University of the City of New- York, , .251 

Unparalleled Store, 177 

Vehicles, if)5 

Valuable Cargo, ..... 165 

Victims to Folly, 311 

Washington Market, 195 

What I saw in Church, .... 256 



WHAT I SAW IN WEAV-YORK. 



Extremes, in success and defeat, health and dis- 
ease, wealth and poverty*, comfort and misery, plenty 
and beggary, every day and every where abound. 

But in many respects the contrast is greater in 
civic than in rural districts. Hence it is proper, and 
may not be unprofitable to look at some of the lines 
which daily events are drawing upon the canvass 
and holding up to view in the checkered scene of city 
life. 

It is often said, that, " One half of the v/orld don't 
know how the other half live." A true saying in- 
deed. But it is truth half told. The sentiment of 
this maxim may with the utmost propriety be ap- 
plied to the smallest town, and frequently to a single 
household. 

With this fact in mind, we sometimes feel inclined 
to turn aside to take a lesson from those whose for- 
tune has been better or worse than our own, that we 
may learn to pity the unfortunate — imitate the wise 
and good, and shun the doom of the foolish and 
miserable. 

This inclination, and a discharge of professional 
duties, have led me hither and thither, through parks 



12 THE TOWxV. 



and mansions, through streets and lanes, through 
courts and alleys, through huts and hovels — by re- 
quest and leave, by day and night, by moon-light and 
star-light, by lamp-light and gas-ligh!:, and by little 
or no light at all, to take a glimpse at men and 
things, as opportunity allowed, or necessity compel- 
led. 

In presenting a brief history of " What I saw in 
New-York," I shall not bo expected to embrace in 
one small volume everything of interest that may be 
seen in so great a city, even in a single day. 

Neither is it to be presumed that all will be alike 
interested in the matter herein presented : for every 
reader will naturally expect, or, at least, desire in« 
formation on such subjects as harmonize with his 
own particular taste, and interest. 

Hoping however to gratify some, and offend none, 
the writer ventures to present a few gleanings of the 
city, and in doing so he will be obliged to trouble 
the reader with many things which he heard, as w^ell 
as those which he saw, and some which he neither 
heard nor saw. 



THE TOWN. 

The city is situated on Manhattan, or New- York 
Island, which is bounded on the West by the Hudson 
or North River ; on the South by the capacious and 
beautiful Harbor ; on the East by the East River ; 
and on the North by Harlem River and Spuyten 
Duyvel Creek. The Island, in its longest diameter, 



THE TOWX. 13 



is about thirteen miles, with an average breadth of 
nearly two miles. 

It is said, that, as early as 1614, four houses were 
erected on this Island by the Dutch, who carried on 
a successful trade in furs with the natives. The 
southern portion of the Island was settled first, and 
still remains the central point of business. 

From the southern extremity, the city has extend- 
ed up the Island four or five miles, with a pretty 
dense population. The remaining portion is more or 
less improved and settled. The population of the 
city in 1656, was 1,000. In 1850, about 520,000, and 
in 1860 will probably be, including Brooklyn and 
Williamsburgh, at least 1,000,000, as the whole 
population of these places now amounts to about 
700,000. 

Probably the day will come when New- York will 
have outstripped all the cities of the old, as she has 
already those of the new world. The vast increase 
of 149,000 during the last quinquennial period, may 
fill some with surprise. But it will be remembered 
that 212,796 aliens arrived at this port in 1850, m.any 
of whom prefer to submit to poor fare in town, than 
to live on the fat of the land in rural districts. 

The number of buildings, erected during the past 
year, though not as great as in some previous years, 
is between two and three thousand, and probably of 
better quality than any preceding year has exhibited, 
with some few exceptions. 

The last year was also a year of comparative 
health; the deaths being about 17,000, while the 



14 STREETS. 



preceding 3'ear presented '• ghastly bills of mortality," 
amounting to nearly 24,000. 

STREETS. 

The lower part of the cit}'- has a few narrow zig- 
zag cow-path streets, imitating somewhat our sister 
city at the East. But they are less crooked, and 
fewer of them. The upper part of the town is well 
laid out, all the streets being straight, running in 
parallel lines, and at right angles to those they cross. 

There are fifteen noble Avenues, running parallel 
to each other through a good portion of the upper 
part of the city, most of which extend to the north- 
ern extremity of the Island ; and these avenues are 
100 feet wide and 800 feet apart. 

Below 34th-street, we have 200 miles of paved 
streets, and this district embraces the most of the 
paved streets in town. The whole number of streets 
laid out, many of which are unopened, amount to 
409, the aggregate length of which is about 500 
miles. The streets are generally paved with round 
cobble stone, at an expense of about fifty cents per 
square yard. 

Wooden pavements have been tried, by' setting 
blocks, about ten inches square, on the ends. But 
they soon wear out and rot, and are laid aside. Any 
man who can invent such a method of paving as to 
preserve a smooth, unbroken, durable surface, at a 
low price, will be sure of reaping a rich reward. 
By a smooth pavement, we don't mean smooth enough 
for skating. This is the great objection to a certain 



STREETS. 15 



form of pavement recently introduced, of which we 
will speak in a moment. There is too much skating 
on it, and the greatest fault found with it is, that the 
horses can't stand on their skates. 

Neither would we have our pavements rough 
enough to lead the traveller to suppose, as he rides 
along in his sulky, that by some means or other he 
has got one wheel on the top of the " Blue Ridge," 
and the other wheel on the crest of the " Alleghany 
Mountains." 

But as cobble stone pavements are alwa3^s getting 
out of repair, and especially in great thoroughfares ; 
and are withal a little too rough, I must speak of a 
new form which is called the " Russ Pavement," 
named after Horace P. Russ, Esq., who first intro- 
duced it, and which seems to be the best that we 
have yet hit upon. But its great expense renders its 
introduction rather tardy, and it has hitherto been so 
smooth as to render it unsafe for horses under certain 
circumstances. A new feature however has just 
been introduced to prevent the evil spoken of 

As this pavement is somewhat rare, at least in this 
country, a brief description of its construction may 
interest some of my readers. 

The ground is first excavated to the depth of 
about eighteen inches, after which a layer of broken 
stone is rammed down. The street is then divided 
off into sections, about six feet wide, by placing 
strips of yellow pine boards that distance apart, run- 
ning parallel with the street. These boards are six 
inches wide, and are set up on the edge. The object 
of the sections is, to increase the facilities for taking 



16 STREETS. 



up a portion of the pavement without disturbing the 
rest, in case the bursting of a Croton water or gas 
pipe should render it necessary. 

When this part is completed, these spaces are fill- 
ed level with the top edges of said boards, with 
what they call " concrete.''^ It consists of broken 
stone, sand, gravel, and h3'draulic cement. This 
constitutes the principal foundation, the top of which 
is made as level as possible, and to perfect this, a 
thin layer of sand is spread over its surface. Upon 
this foundation are then placed the paving stones, 
which are square blocks of Trap^ a species of rock 
resembling granite, though much harder. These 
blocks are all 10 inches deep, 5 to 10 inches wide, 
and 10 to 18 inches long, and are laid diagonally 
across the street to prevent carriage wheels from 
wearing ruts between them. 

After these blocks are thus placed upon this foun- 
dation and pounded down, they are "grouted," w^hich 
is simpl}?" to pour over the top a mixture of hydrau- 
lic cement and sand, so thin as to run down and fill 
up the cracks. But as it has been found, after giv- 
ing about half a mile of it a fair trial, to be too 
sm^ooth, a new feature has recently been introduced 
to obviate this difiicult}'", which consists of grooves 
cut in the top of the stones a few inches apart, about 
one inch and a half wide, and half or three-fourths 
of an inch deep. For paving in this manner the 
proprietors now charge, including the grooving, six 
dollars and fifty cents per square yard. 

Now, although this pavement for durability would 
seem to be next to the '* everlasting hills" — that is, 



THOROUGHFARES. 17 



setting aside the grooving, for we think that some of 
the horses now trotting over it will live long enough 
to see the stones minus this anti-slipping improve- 
ment — jet it is a question in the mind of the writer, 
whether the old cobble stones, the good old things 
which wear like iron, may not yet be used to the best 
advantage, all things considered. Pavei^s tell us th^t 
when the stones are thoroughly rammed down, they 
stand twice as long as when they are not. 

Very \vell, then have them mof^e than well ram- 
med down. First bring some power to bear upon 
the soil that shall force it right down at least a foot. 
Then lay the stones, and force them down till no or- 
dinary carriage wheel can make them wink, and we 
are inclined to think that they will not want relay- 
ing every quarter nor every year. We only make 
the suggestion, while we confess our disapprobation 
of the break-necks in the streets. 

THOROUGHFARES. 

The most important thoroughfares in the city are 
Broadwa}-, Bowery and Fulton-street ; but these are 
by no means all the streets which are thronged with 
teeming multitudes. The principal street for the 
sale of merchandize has heretofore been Pearl-street ; 
but Broadway seems destined to work a great revolu- 
tion in this respect, as merchant princes are almost 
daily opening magnificent stores in this fashionable 
street. 

2 



18 PUBLIC LAxMPS. STREET CLEANING. 

PUBLIC LAMPS. 

The streets, parks, &c., are lighted during the 
night — that is, when the moon hides her face behind 
an earthen vail — by 5,570 gas-lamps, and 6,732 oil- 
lamps, making in all 12,302, at an annual expense of 
$184,808 41. 

STREET CLEANING. 

There are many men. horses, carts, shovels, hoes 
and brooms constantly employed in cleaning the 
streets ; and a greater number still daily contribute 
their ratio to make them as uncleanly as possible. 
The result of all this is, that the collections for the 
past year, ending Dec. 31, 1850, have been as fol- 
low : — 

Loads of Manure ----- J 63,203 

" Dirt 103,851 

" Ashes and Garbage - - - 157,492 



Total number of Loads - - 459,546 

To remove this, it has cost the sum of - - $158,637 
Amount received from sale of Manure, &c. - 34/i55 



Net expense . - - $123,982 

The expenses of the Street Paving Department 

amount to $595,550 

The total amount for Lighting, Cleaning and 

Paving the Streets is - - - - 904,340 



PARKS. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 19 



PARKS. 

The principal Parks in the City are the Battery, 
City Hall Park, Washington Square, Tompkins 
Square, St. John's Park, Union Park, StU3'vesant 
Park, and Gramercy Park. There are also several 
other smaller Parks, but still there are too few. The 
first four of the above named parks contain about forty 
acres ; while we have one on a grand scale in pros- 
pect, which is to contain about 160 acres. We think 
this Avill contribute not a little vitalizing power to 
the puh-nonary apparatus of Gotham. The estimated 
value of the ground embraced in the present num- 
ber of parks in the city is $8,980,000. The value of 
the personal and real estate of the Metropolis is 
8286,085,410 74. The amount of taxes assessed for 
1850 was 83,230,345 90. 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

Several of our public buildings vrill be briefljnioticed 
hereafter, in connection with other subjects. For 
many interesting statistics in relation to public edi- 
fices, 6z:c., we are greatly indebted to "New- York 
Past, Present, and Future, by E. Porter Belden, M. A., 
Projector of the Model of New- York." 

The " City HalV is an imposing edifice, occup3'ing 
the centre of the Park. Its corner stone was laid 
September 26, 1803. It was completed in 1812, at 
an expense of $538,734. The front and ends were 
built of white marble, and its rear of brown free 
stone. This was thought good enough for the " days 



20 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

of moderate expectations." But at the present clay 
it hardly has any rear. 

The building consists of two stories, of the Ionic 
and Corinthian orders. Its length is 216 feet, its 
width 105 feet, and its height 65 feet. A cupola of 
the composite order, surmounted by a colossal figure 
of Justice, rises from the centre of the roof. In the 
rear of this, is a smaller cupola, containing a bell 
which weighs 9,800 pounds, and probably the largest 
in the United States. This is for sounding alarms. 

The edifice contains the Council Chambers of the 
different boards of the City Government, the Gov- 
ernor's Room, the apartments of most of the Courts 
of Law, and various public offices. The Governor's 
Room, and the rooms of the Common Council, are 
furnished in an elegant manner, and decorated with 
the portraits of characters eminent in the annals of 
the city and country. 

A few rods from this edifice, in the rear, stands a 
plain building 260 feet long and 49 feet wide, which 
was formerly the "Alms House," and now goes by 
the name of "iVew; C//y //«//," which contains the 
rooms of the United States District and Marine Courts, 
together with various offices. 

At a little distance from the City Hall on the east, 
stands the '^ Hall of Records,^^ which was formerly 
the " Debtor's Prison," and while the cholera raged 
in 1832, it was used as a Hospital. It has been re- 
modelled, and stuccoed in imitation of white marble, 
and had its appearance greatly improved since the 
days of yore. It is constructed after the model of the 
Temple at Ephesus. Its length is 104 feet, and its 



PL'BLIC BUILDINGS. 21 



width 62 feet. It is not only the depository of the 
archives of the city, but it also contains many pub- 
lic ofnces. 

The " Custom House " fronts on Wall and Pine 
streets, though it presents its principal front to the 
former, a street famous for Bankers, Brokers, Stock 
Jobbers, Speculators, and Gamblers. On the same 
site once stood the old Federal Hall, in which the 
inaguration of Washington as President of the United 
States, took place. No other government building 
in our country is the scene of so varied and exten- 
sive monetary operations. Here is collected more 
than two-thirds of the entire revenue of the Union. 

The edifice was commenced in 1834 and finished 
in 1842. Its model was, with some variations, the 
Parthenon at Athens. Its length is 192 feet, and its 
breadth 1)0 feet. The colonnade at each end of the 
building consists of eight columns. The principal 
apartment is circular and surmounted by a splendid 
dome. A peristyle of sixteen Corinthian columns 
encloses the apartments, and supports the dome. 
The remainder of the building is divided into offices 
appropriated to the various branches of the depart- 
ment. 

The Custom House, though a splendid structure, 
is too contracted for the immense business within 
its walls; a business constantly increasing, and which 
will doubtless require more spacious accomodations, 
long before the present buildini^ has lost its reputa- 
tion as one of the most admired edifices in the coun- 
tr5\ The cost of the land, building, and appendages, 
was $1,175,000. 



22 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 



The " Merchants' Exchange'^ occupies an irregu- 
lar block, bounded by Wall, William, Exchange and 
Hanover streets. It was erected by the Merchants' 
Exchange Company, which was incorporated by the 
Legislature in 1823, wdth a capital of a million of 
dollars. The present edifice was commenced in 1S3G 
and completed in 1842 on the site of the former Ex- 
change, which was destroyed in the great fire of 
1835. 

This noble building *• is justly admired as one of 
the most splendid specimens of architecture in the 
countr}'. It is built of beautiful syenite from Quin- 
cy, Mas?., to which the quarriers have given the 
name of "Quincy Granite," and is entirely fire proof. 

"It consists of tw^o main stories, wnth a high base- 
ment and an attic. Its principal front on Wall street, 
190 feet in length, is adorned by a colonnade of 
twelve Ionic columns. Within these, is a range of 
six similar columns, supporting the ceiling of a recess 
for the main entrance to the building. The shafts 
of these columns, thirty feet in height, are single 
blocks, weighing thirty-three tons. 

"The Rotunda, the name applied to the Excha- ge 
Hall, o'icupies the centre of the edifice, and is sur- 
mounted by a. magnificent dome, eighty feet in dia- 
meter, resting in part on eight splendid Corinthian 
columns of Italian marble. A large hall, in the 
western portion of the building, is devoted to the 
purposes of a Reading Room, containing files of pa- 
pers from almost every country of (ho world. The 
other Jiparrmenfs are chiefly occupied by the ofiijes 
of insurance companies, bankers and brokers. The 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 23 



cost of this noble edifice, including the ground on 
which it stands, which was purchased for $768,000, 
was about 81,800,000." 

The Rotunda, during the business hours, " when 
merchants congregate, presents a scene of the live- 
liest interest. On every face may be depicted the 
excitement that reigns within; and as the busy 
groups, closel}'' dotting the area of this Temple of 
Commerce^ exchange their views on the topics of 
the day, and the magnificent vault above them rever- 
berates the hum of a hundred voices, the beholder is 
forcibly reminded of the glory of ancient Tyre, when 
'her merchants were princes, and her traffickers 
the honorable of the earth.'" 

At the hour of half-past ten, a. m. daily, the New 
York Stock and Exchange Board meet at their Ball 
in the Exchange. The objects of this association 
are, the buying and selling of stocks, specie, &c. No 
am.ount less than five hundred dollars is permitted 
to be sold at this board. The fee for admission, or 
membership, is four hundred dollars. 

There are also meetings of similar institutions, for 
similar purposes, and governed by much the same 
regulations, though a much less fee is required for 
admission. There is an immense amount of business 
done at this modern lottery office in the course of a 
3'ear. Here multitudes try their luck daily, on a 
much larger scale than they or others do in lottery 
tickets. They bid and buy, and beg and borrow, 
and sell and swap, and shift and shave; and many 
neither know themselves, nor can others tell whether 



24 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 



they will be worth one cent in six days, or be a for- 
tune worse than nothing in half the time. 

Many congregate around the doors of these sales- 
rooms, and do business through the key-hole, as they 
listen to ascertain the most favorable bid ; or whether 
they are likely to draw a blank or a prize. These 
are called " Outsiders.''^ With a little more money 
they might be insiders. 

Visiting the Exchange, a short time since, for my 
own curiosity, and being of course an outsider, I was 
quite amused to notice the effect of bids within, upon 
those without. When some of the Reading Rail Road 
Stock was struck off at a slight advance, not more 
than three-eights per cent, a half way loafer-like- 
looking chap, struck off into a smart trot, or half 
way between a pace and double shuffle on the 
granite walk, singing, " hity, tity," as though the 
scale of fortune had turned wonderfully in his favor, 
and I fancied that his face would compare very 
favorably with some of the gold diggers when they 
hit upon a "poc/ce^." 

But there were others as much depressed. Possibly 
some of my readers may not understand how an im- 
provement in prices can produce such a result. 

Well, suppose that A had previously sold to B, 
five thousand dollars worth of R. R. stock to be de- 
livered in thirty days at a given price. During this 
period A buys and sells, hoping to be able to make 
a little fortune during one short month, and also 
obtain stock enough to fulfil his engagement before 
the time for delivering it shall have arrived, and at 
a lower rate than he sold it. 



POST OFFICE. 25 



But, alas ! the price rises, and rises, and rises; and 
he waits, and waits, and watches, hoping to see the 
Stock go down, that he may buy, at least at 3, saving 
price. But he can't get it down, and when the day 
arrives that the Stock is demanded, the price has so 
advanced, that to make the contract good will make 
a bankrupt of the speculator. And so, whether 
Stocks in market rise or fall, a man's fortune may 
rise when they fall, and fall when they rise. 



POST OFFICE. 

This immense and important establishment well de- 
serves a notice. The department occupies the 
building which has long been known as the " Mid- 
dle Dutch Church," which was erected in 1729, the 
steeple and certain other parts having been brought 
from Holland, and which during the War of the 
Revolution was desecrated by British soldiery. To 
our very worthy and efficient Postmaster, Wm. Y. 
Brady, Esq. the writer is indebted for some interest- 
ing statistics. 

The number of men employed as Clerks, Assistants, 
Carriers, &c., is about 140. Average daily service, 
eleven hours. Time for delivery of letters, papers 
&c., from 7 J, a. m. to 6 J, p. m. ; and on Sunday, from 9 
to 10, A. M. and from 12jto 1 J, p. m. Mails for Steam 
Ships are closed one hour and a-half before the time 
of sailing. Letters uncalled for, after lying in the 
office a week, are advertised once. The number of 
such as are still uncalled for, or the " dead letters," 
which are sent to the General Post Office, amounts 
to about 140.000 annually. The number of letters, 



26 POST OFFICE. 



domestic and foreign, vvkich passed through the New 
York Post Office during the quarter ending March 31, 
1851, was 0,409,171. This being, as I was inlbrmed, 
about an average proportion for the 3'ear, presents the 
enormous annual aggregate of 25,630,684. In ad- 
dition to Letters, the numbi^r of Newspapers may 
be compared to the leaves of the forest. 

The number of persons who daily visit the P. O. 
hoping to receive from, or communicate to, their 
friends and others, messages of importance, is al- 
together unknown. Probably not less than ten or 
twelve thousand. 

It is often an interesting sight to see the eager 
eyes of the outsiders, glancing over some weighty 
communication, while the fondest hopes, or worst 
fears are realized. 

Some read to their heart's content — others to their 
great disappointment and unutterable sorrow. Many 
tears have been poured out around the venerable 
Old Dutch Church, as mournful tidings have come 
from afar. 

It is, moreover, sometimes amusing to see the 
anxiety of the bearer of important dispatches, after 
he has dropped his letter into the box. He lingers as 
though fearful that he has not performed his part, or 
that the Post Master will fail to perform his. But 
when he reflects that he has made '^ care and spef^d''' 
very conspicuous, and that Ex-Mayor Brady knows 
full well what that moans, he goes away contented ; 
and well he may, while such a Post Master is 1 here 
— others do the same ihing. May it please the Post 
^Master General to keep him there. Every thing 



CITY FUNCTIONARIES. 27 

moves on harmoniously within; and all without are 
satisfied, or will be, with cheap postage and good 
news. 

CITY FUNCTIONARIES. 

The City is at present divided into nineteen Wards, 
each of which elects one Alderman and an Assistant 
Alderman, w^io, together with the Mayor and vari- 
ous other officers I need not mention, are chosen an- 
nually. 

The Police Department is under the supervision of 
the Mayor and Common Council or Aldermen, and 
numbered, the past year, 940 men, at an expense to 
the City of 8487,435,09. I deem it proper to remark, 
that many items of expense are charged to this de- 
partment, with about as little propriety as to charge 
it for cleaning the streets. Such, for example, as for 
carting off drunken men and drunken women to 
prison. Better charge it at once to that department 
which licences men to fill the streets with public 
nuisances. It ought to foot the bill. The thne will 
probably come when this department will be dis- 
pensed with. Let all in favor of it sav, aye ! 

Each Ward has a Police Station House, which 
the rogues generally shun when it is convenient : 
but when they cannot operate as well, a little more 
remotely, they are not very scrupulous about plunder- 
ing premises so near said stations as to share in the 
fragrance of the M. P.'s best Havana segars. To 
this I can tesrif}^ inasmuch as a store was robbed in 
my own immediate neighborhood, some three or four 
years since, and not a dream was any the shorter 



2S CITY FUNCTIONARIES. 



for it, though the said store and Station House were 
hardly separated the bread; h of a whisper. We hope 
and trust that there are few such adroit rogues in the 
fifteenth Ward, and regret to conless there ever ha.s 
been any. The " Chief of Police " has his otFice at 
the City Hall. 

This important and efficient organization, for it is 
important and efficient, though some are always 
ready to find fault, as though a Policeman ought to 
be and is expected to be more perfect than a deacon 
or a judge — these city watchmen trip up many a 
sly, slippery villain, and cut short the expectation^^^ 
of reckless rascals, and send to their own place cut- 
throats and desperadoes. 

Bat they would be still more efficient if they did 
not congregate quite so much under some good 
shelter, to tell long stories for their own amusement 
at an hour when rogues are on the alert. 

Perhaps I ought to explain how it is, and why it 
is that there is such a demand for Police officers in 
the City. I have already thrown out a hint on this 
subject; but I have four thousand five hundred and 
twenty eight more, which I may as well present here 
as any where. 

There were 4,528 men licensed during the past 
year. To do what ? to disturb the peace and safety of 
community, shall I say, by sending into our midst le- 
gions of devils incarnate, fitted and prepared to do their 
master's work? Now, is it difficult to perceive that 
so many licensed toddy-houses will require more 
than 940 Police officers to correct all the evil and 



CITY FUNCTIONARIES. 29 



prevent all the crime to which these pernicious estab- 
lishments lead ? 

But this is not all. From the returns recently- 
made to the Chief of Police, we perceive that three 
thousand eight hundred and ninety six houses are 
kept open for the sale of nun on the Sabbath ! 
" Tell it not in Gath." Shame on the drinker ! 
Shame on the vender ! ! and shame on the city 
authorities ! ! ! 

Stop ! Is this the nineteenth century ? Is this a 
civilized land ? Is this the age of reform, and do we 
live in a christian city? Alas ! how dismal the pic- 
ture ! 

From the same returns we learn that 750 estab- 
lishments sell intoxicating drink through the week 
without any license. Well, what if they do ? Not 
one of the 3,896 rum holes are licensed to traffic in 
strong drink on the Sabbath, and if so many have a 
right to hand out the accursed cup to all who are 
susceptible of being ensnared, one day in seven with- 
out a permit, and the day of all others when the 
most mischief can be done ; surely it ought not to be 
very criminal for the 750 to sell the article during 
the other six days, even though the Mayor has not 
given them leave to do so. No matter whether he 
has given consent or not. Everybody knows that 
he would if they applied for it. 

Now, if the deed is unquestionablj^ a good one, 
cever mind about obtaining consent to do right. If 
it is, beyond all controversy, the cause of more wo 
and desolation than any other traffic on the face of 
the earth, then the sanction of the Mayor will only 



80 FIRE DEPAr.T.-VIEN' 



make it so much the worse, and rather than do it, we 
think he had better cut oiT his right hand. 

But we may here, and elsewhere, be condemned 
for moralizing, in giving a bird's eye view of the city. 
Nevertheless, whenever we happen to see a man knock 
down and rob his fellow, we claim the right, and 
acknowledge the duty to condemn the principle as 
well as to expose the act. This will be our aim in 
future : resolving, that no obstruction shall frustrate 
our plan, by getting between our inkstand and fools- 
cap. 

At any rate with the above agents at work in 
spreading povert}^ crime, and desolation through 
the community, no wonder that it costs 8380,534 31 
to support the Alms House for twelve months. No 
wonder that our prisons are full and need enlarging. 
No Vv'onder that it costs the city half a million of 
dollars to watch rogues, and prevent crime. If our 
city authorities should take it into their heads never 
to rest until they shall have shut up every gambling 
house and rummery in town, we hesitate not to say, 
that property, life and limb, will be safer with 300 
Police, than the}^ are now with all we can raise. We 
want a little more common sense and moral cour- 
age to effect such an important achievement. 

FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

This department is of acknowledged, and undoubt- 
ed importance to the cit}^ The essential service 
which its fiithful members render daily, can never 
be fully known; and although the introduction of 
the all-quenching Croton, which must be noticed 



FIRE DEPARTr.IENT. 31 



hereafter, greatly promotes the security of the city 
from destruction b}^ fire, yet our worthy and devoted 
firemen are still indispensable to our safety and pros- 
perity. 

The Fire department has at its head, Alfred Car- 
son, Esq., Chief Engineer. It has also in each Ward 
an assistant engineer, fire companies, engines, hose, 
hooks, ladders, and engine-houses. The department 
contains thirty-four engine companies, forty-seven 
hose companies, nine hook and ladder companies, 
three hydrant companies, five thousand feet of hose, 
and about two thousand men. The members arc 
free from jury and military dutj^ and after serving 
five years, they are exempt for life. 

The ci^y is divided into eight fire-districts, and in 
case of fire in the first district, the sis^nal is one 
stroke from the alarm-bells, with a sufficient inter- 
val, before repeating the single stroke. For the se- 
cond district, two strokes ; for the third, three 
strokes, and so on. The number of fires during the 
year ending August I, 1850, was 289. 

One of the most frightful, though often truly sub- 
lime sights to be witnessed in the city, is a large 
fire ; and especially in the night. How rapidly does 
the devouring element, on certain occasions blast the 
hopes of multitudes, and turn a glittering, flourishing 
town into a melancholy mass of smouldering ruins. 
It is an awful spectacle to behold agitated thousands 
making every possible eflx)rt for the general good. 
Behold some trying to arrest the flames — some to 
save their property — some to save their friends, and 
others to save themselves. 



32 



FIRE nEPARTMENT. 



Pestilence, may make greater havoc among flesh 
and blood, but it is an invisible agent. It goeth 
where it listeth, but we cannot hear the sound there- 
of, nor tell whence it cometh, or whither it goeth. 

Not so with fire. We see the glowing, flashing 
flame ; hear the dismal roar ; feel the scorching heat ; 
smell the fetid gas ; breathe the smothering smoke, 
and with instinctive horror shun its dread approach. 

To hear in the dead of night, the long, loud, deep, 
and solemn cry of "fire — fire — fire," mingling with 
rattling engines, shouting firemen, flashing lightning 
roaring thunder, and tolling bells; to see the fearful 
flame burst through the imperiled habitation, and 
light up the firmament, darkened by volumes of soot 
and smoke, and blast the hopes of the terror-stricken, 
semi-naked, half-insane household who are driven 
into the street, is truly enough to strike the specta- 
tor with an indescribable feeling of pity and awe. 

In great haste, with short notice, and in much 
confusion, men, women, and children are hurried 
into the streets ; also beds, bureaus, and boxes ; 
hats, coats, carpets, and crockery ; chairs, sofas, set- 
tees and side-boards ; portraits, paintings, portfo- 
lios, and pianos ; books, birds, and baskets ; teapots, 
tables, and tapestry. 

These and such other articles of value as can be 
snatched away from the merciless flames and hurried 
into the streets, are piled up at a little distance from 
the fire, to await the decision of owners and others. 

It is now evident that the bell has not spoken in 
vain, for, with surprising agility, the ready, faithful 
firemen are on the spot to make the first move, and 



FIRE DEPARTMENT. 33 



the essential agent which has come fifty miles to 
render important af^sistance, rushes into the thickest 
of the fire and smoke, and then the two contending 
elements pour and roar, and dash and flash, and spat- 
ter and shatter, in the awful and momentous strife. 

But with all the combined forces of the Fire De- 
partment, and all the virtues of the Croton, combus- 
tion marches on at a fearful rate, and with disastrous 
results. 

At length it is discovered that the enemy cannot 
so well be drowned out as starved out, and hence 
the efiicacy of gun-powder is put to the test — a tre- 
mendous concussion is felt — one or more buildings 
instantaneously demolished — combustibles enough to 
feed the flames for hours are at once removed, and 
the undaunted firemen resume their usual mode of 
obtaining the victory, without a murmur or a doubt. 

This is the harvest time for the light-fingered, and 
black-hearted. Why should not the guilty wretches 
be on the alert while the. night lasts and the fire 
burns, lest they should find out a little too late that 
they had applied the torch in vain ? Hence they 
work fast, sleep little, toil hard, keep a good look-out* 
fill their pockets and baskets, steal all they can, keep 
all they get and care not who suffers. 

But what sometimes makes the sudden occurrence 
of fire in the night, more terrible than any thing else, 
is, the fearful prospect that some precious immortal 
will perish in the flames. About two years since, a 
case of this kind occurred in my own street. In the 
dead of night, a fire broke out in the lower part of a 
dwelling-house, the first story of which was occupied 



34 FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

as a store, and in the upper part of which the family- 
were asleep. When the alarm was given, there was 
no retreat but through the windows. The mother 
jumped out and fell upon a stoop, somewhat injured, 
though not seriously. 

In the mean timethe father went into the adjoining 
rooms to save his children, a son and daughter — the 
former about twelve, the latter about sixteen years 
of age. In entering the apartments he found that 
they had left their beds, but he soon came in contact 
with his son, and took him to the window and raised 
it, and told the boy to stand perfectly still until he 
found his daughter. 

But for her he searched in vain, and when he found 
that he was likely to suflfocate himself, he rushed for 
the window, and then, alas! he could not find, his 
son ! How, or why he had disappeared, he knew 
not. He felt that he could do no more, and crawled 
out and hung by his hands until a, ladder was raised 
for his escape, which was quickly done ; and almost as 
quick as thou-iiL, a noble fireman entered the 
windows, and soon returned with the two stupified, 
and almost lifeless children. 

Now, it will be much easier for the reader to 
imagine than for the writer to describe the state of 
mind to which these distracted parents were sub- 
jected during their awful suspense. And what must 
have been the feelings of those children in such 
awful peril ? I saw them the next day, and the 
young lady told me that the last that she remembered 
was, that she gave up all hope of escape, and laid 
down on the floor to die. 



FIRE DEPARTMENT. 35 

But the worthy fireman is not always so success- 
ful, as regards saving others, or even himself. He 
enters a house which is in flames, with his life in his 
hand, and as he enters, his fellow-laborers pour upon 
him a flood of Croton, to render him somewhat fire- 
proof. He disappears amid volumes of vapor, fire, 
and smoke. With intense anxiety all watch and 
wait his return. But, alas ! he does not appear, and 
all that is again seen of the noble fellow is a few 
whitened calcined bones in the bottom of the cellar, 
after the work of devastation is finished. His mother, 
or his companion mourns and weeps, and for months 
and years can hardly hear the tolling bell without 
painful recollections of the sad and trying event. 

But not only docs this agent remind surviving 
friends, from time to time, of some mournful catas- 
trophe, but the engine houses, which are so often 
dressed in black (and if they are not at the present 
moment, it is because they have recently thrown ofT 
the mournful badge), proclaim in solemn silence to 
the passing spectator, that one or more have fallen, 
while in the discharge of perilous duties. 

Now we perceive no reason why the widows and 
children of such unfortunate men should not be as 
much entitled to a pension as if the victim had fallen 
in battle. And as the firemen discharge their ardu- 
ous, perilous duties, without any remuneration, we 
think that all will admit that Jenny Lind turned her 
benevolence in the right direction, when, among 
numerous other donations, she contributed to the 
" Firemen's Fund," for the relief of the disabled and 
needy, the liberal sum of three thousand dollars ! 



36 FIRE DEPARTMENT. 



Such nightingales are rare, in more respects than 
one. 

It may be said that firemen have some advantages. 
Some advantages ! Wlio has not ? Their exemption 
from jury and military duty is not worthy to be 
named, compared with the essential service which 
they render to the city. We hardly know of another 
equal number of men, as devoted to the prosperity of 
the metropolis. True, it is a volunteer service, and 
so much the better. It is also true that none are 
compelled to go where it is known to be positively 
unsafe. But who does not see that there must often 
be much danger where little or none is anticipated. 

But this is not all. After the fireman enters the 
ranks, no ordinary plea can excuse him from duty. 
No urgency of business — no inclemency of weather — 
no unseasonable hour — no love of social enjoyments, 
or obligations to friends — no sanctity of the Sabbath, 
or solemnity of the sanctuary can excuse the fireman 
when the alarm bell rings. Nay, he must go, and go 
at once ; go instanter. And not only go, but hurry ; 
and not only hurry, but ?'wrA ; and not only run, but 
drag an engine, mount a ladder, scale the walls, and 
quench the flames, if he can ; and it is not his pro- 
fession to sa}^ " I can't." 

But there is one source of danger to which I have 
not alluded — namely, the shameful, nay, criminal 
manner in which dwellings are sometimes erected. 
One example will sufiice. 

On the 15th of January, 1851, at a quarter past one 
o'clock, p. M., six brick buildings, in the upper part of 
the city, fell, with a tremendous crash, while thirty- 



FIRE DEPARTMENT. 37 



two workmen were upon them, killing five, and 
maiming others. Said buildings were four stories 
high, and the fifth was about to be added. Such a 
scene of desolation I have rarely witnessed. It 
seemed almost a miracle that any came out of the 
ruins alive. 

There were heaps upon heaps of timber, brick, and 
mortar, and so completely was every thing crushed, 
that for a long time I could not find a solitary stick 
of timber unbroken. It was literally ground to oven- 
wood. One of the principal deficiences of said 
buildings, appeared to be in the miserable, worthless 
quality of the mortar, which was little better than 
dry loam. From its appearance, one could hardly 
be very positive that it contained any lime at all, 
and the bricks were not cemented together in the 
least degree. 

Now, suppose the workmen had escaped, that they 
had been fortunate enough to tie the walls together 
by means of timbers and the roof, so as to leave 
them not only standing, but apparently safe, and then 
let one or more take fire and burn out the ties ; and 
it would not be very difilcult to perceive that every 
fireman within the reach of a falling brick, would be 
in peril, for the walls would be almost certain to 
fall. 

At the last great fire in New York, that is, the fire 
of 1845, the number of buildings consumed and 
demolished was 240. The amount of property 
destroyed was estimated at 65,000,000, and far 
worse than all, nine precious lives were sacrificed. 



38 CROTO:^ WATKH DEPARTMF.XT. 

At that tims, goo:l.>, wares, an 1 rnsrchaudise were 
pilal in ill the streets i;i every directioa around the 
burnt district, and the military and the police guarded 
them day and night. And what may seem almost 
incredible, the fire remained in some of the smoulder- 
ing ruins more than a year ! 

CROTON WATER DEPARTMENT. 

We have been favored with some- interesting 
statistics, in relation to this department, from its 
worthy and able President, Nicholas Dean, Esq., 
which we are happy to lay before our readers. 

The introduction of the pure Groton into New- 
York, was an event worth}^ of being chronicled. So 
our inhabitants thought, and hence they set apart 
the 14rh of October, 1842, and with hearty good will, 
celebrated the grand achievement, with demonstra- 
tions of joy. 

The day was delightful, and every man, woman 
and child, felt at liberty to enjoy it, and came out to 
exhibit their clean faces, as a proof of the virtue of 
Croton water. 

In its favor, the roaring cannon, and chiming bells 
caused the inhabitants of "Manhattan" to hear their 
testimony at sunrise. Legions of urchins were rea- 
dy to respond with t.hair fire-crackers and pop-guns. 
Old people and little children, rich men and beggars, 
were all on a par, for all were alike interested and 
benefited. 

At ten o'clock a militar}^ and civic procession se- 
ven n)i]es in length, composed of all classes, with 
flying banners and stirring music, and beautiful, co- 



CROTON WATCR DEPARTMENT. 39 

mica], and fantastical exhibitions, started from the 
Battery, and occupied about seven hours in passing 
through the principal streets, and received one con- 
tinued roar of cheering congratulaticins from thou- 
sands of shouting voices, Vv^hile the fountains spar- 
kled, kerchiefs waved, ladies smiled, friends exulted, 
and foes blushed for shame, when they thought of 
their former hostility. 

This invaluable fluid is brought to the city from 
the Croton River in an aqueduct of superior mason- 
ry. Its greatest interior width is about 7j feet, its 
greatest interior height, about 8 J feet. Through this 
aqueduct, at its completion, the commissioners and 
engineers performed a journey on foot ; and when 
the river was turned into its new channel to be in- 
troduced to a host of admirers, I might almost say 
semi-idolators, it conducted to New-York, the " Cro- 
ton Maid," with four men on board, giving them a 
very prosperous voyage and novel excursion. 

At the starting point of this aqueduct, a dam is 
throvv^n across the Croton River, forty feet high, and 
which forms the Croton Lake, or quite an important 
reservoir at head quarters. The water at this point 
stands at an elevation of 166 feet above mean tide. 
The declivity of the aqueduct is about thirteen inches 
per mile. It crosses the Harlem River on a magni- 
ficent bridge of stone, which is usually called the 
" High Bridge," and is indeed somewhat lofty, being 
114 feet above the level of high water, and is 1,450 
feet long. 

After discharging the important fluid into the re- 
ceiving reservoir, which is about six miles from the 



40 CROTON WATER DEPARTMENT. 



City Hall, the masonry gives place to large cast iron 
pipes, through which the water is conveyed to the 
"Distributing Reservoir," a distance of about two 
miles. Thence it proceeds through various distri- 
buting pipes to different parts of the cit3% finding its 
way into gorgeous palaces, and humble cabins. 

The length of the aqueduct, including the reser- 
voir at the head, and the main pipes which conduct 
the water to the southermost portion of the city, is 
about fifty miles. 

The Croton Lake, contains 500,000,000 gallons. 
The receiving reservoir 150,000,000, and the distri- 
buting reservoir contains 20,000,000. The distribut- 
ing iron pipes which are laid under ground through 
the streets, are from 4 to 36 inches in diameter, and 
the aggregate length of which is already more than 
two hundred miles ; an average of nearly twenty-five 
miles per year, since the first pipe was laid. The 
length of the service pipes which conduct the water 
from the mains in the streets, to and through our 
houses, is probably three times as great, making in 
all about one- fourth the distance from New- York to 
London ; and the time may come when the Croton 
will travel farther in the aggregate to serve its pa- 
trons, than to go to London and back again. 

The expense of conducting the water from the 
street-pipes, varies according to the extent in which 
it is carried through each building, the nature of the 
fixtures, &c. It can be carried into the basement in a 
plain substantial manner for less than ^'20. Where- 
as to carry it through a large house, even a private 
house, in the best manner, with every convenience 



CROTON WATER DEPARTMENT. 4i 

for bathing, washing, &c. some pay as much as 
$2000. 

The water tax varies according to the size of 
the building in which the water is used, and not 
according to the number of rooms through which 
it is conducted, or the number of individuals bene- 
fited by its use. The highest water-tax ever paid 
by any individual in the city, was paid the past year 
by the proprietor of a carpet manufactory, namely, 
81500. First class hotels pay 81000. An ordinary 
two-stor}^ house is taxed 88. 

The total income from water the past year ending 
April 30, 1851, was 8557,000. The annual interest 
on the water debt, is 8'702,000. Total expenditure 
up to Jan. 1, 1851, 813,628.095. 

This important, invaluable fluid is not chemically 
pure, but is sufHciently so for all ordinary purposes. 
Its introduction is one of the greatest blessings which 
ever has, or ever will be conferred on our goodly 
town, by art. I need not speak of the sanitary influ- 
ence of such a pure, refreshing, cleansing current, 
flowing through our streets by day and night. Its 
untold value in this respect must be appreciated to 
a very large extent. 

Neither will it be necessary to advert to the vast 
importance of an unfailing supply of this anti-in- 
flammatory material in every street, to quench the 
devouring flame, whenevf^r necessity demands it. 
This will also be seen and felt. 

But 1 may advert to one of its chief glories, and 
for which there is probably more gratitude due, than 
is received. The poor, no matter how poor, without 



42 MONIED INSTITUTIONS. 

money, and without credit, can have this element, as 
sweet and as pure as can the millionaire. There 
are fountains of health and life, in the streets, called 
^^ public hydrants^'' and to these the poor can, and do 
resort and draw for themselves to their heart's and 
mouth's content. And when Mr. Paine shall have 
instructed them how to make a portion of it into 
gas, to give them light ; and fuel, to give them heat; 
and soap, to give them suds, we think there will be 
little or no excuse for uncleanliness. 

MONIED INSTITUTIONS. 

To give momentum to all the wheels of this great 
emporium to the best advantage, we bring into re- 
quisition a very considerable auriferous motive pow- 
er, as the reader will perceive. And to produce as 
little friction as possible, we sometimes find it neces- 
sary to take advantage of the lubricating influence 
of the oil of ar^rentum. In other vA^ords, we find gold 
and silver and good paper, quite convenient, to say 
the least. 

The present number o^ Banhs in the city, exclusive 
of " Savings' Banks," is 3S. These banks have an 
aggregate capital of 835,037,700. They are consi- 
dered sound, and all do a profitable business, we 
suppose. But many are not willing to trust to banks 
or bolts, or drugs, or doctors, and hence the forma- 
tion of Fire, Marine, Life, and Health Insurance 
Companies. Of these we have one hundred, though 
many of them are nominally established in the coun- 
try, and some of them in the old world. Of these. 



MOXIED INSTITUTIONS. 43 



however, only seventy-two are now in successful op- 
eration, and they have a reputed capital of $48,- 
584,000. The mosLt of these, together with the above 
mentioned Banks, are located in Wall-street. 

There is also a very large capital employed in the 
Excliange business, which business is mainly done in 
this street, which has long been famous for monetary 
operations. Many of the proprietors of these estab- 
lishments do a profitable and honorable business; 
while some of these shops are regular traps, and they 
catch not a few. 

Man}^ interesting facts miglit be presented in rela- 
tion to a great variety of commercial transactions 
and advantages ; many details concerning the past 
and present condition of our metropolis ; much might 
be said about the great and good things yet in re- 
serve, which would doubtless interest the rea,der, of 
which we can hardly take a glimpse in so small a vo- 
lume. Moreover, the reader is already aware that 
we do not intend this as a history of New-York, or 
a geography of Manhattan Island. 



FIRST LESSOiN. 

The reader will now permit me to carry him back, 
a decennial period, to take a glimpse of my begin- 
ning in town, although not very auspicious. 

Well, the first object which I saw to anno}' me, 
and the iirst human being of a particular class which 
I shall honor with a brief notice, was a colored fe- 
male beggar ; and, to the credit of ^^ colored ladies ^^* 
is the jfirst and the last of the daughters of Ham, that 
I ever saw engaged in such a pursuit; at least the 
only one that I can now call to mind. 

Although we are prone to entertain not the most 
favorable opinion of beggars as a class, yet even 
here we find almost as great a diversity of charac- 
ter, as in any other branch of the human family. 
We frequently see those of talent, refinement, and 
moral worth, whom we willingly acknowledge to be 
worthy of our sympathy and aid, and to whom, with 
pleasure, we extend such comforts as we know to be 
indispensable to their well being. 

Again, we see others, whom w^e instinctively dis- 
like. The subject of this notice, at least in the wri- 
ter's estimation, belonged to this class. 

She took her station in Inroad way, as near to the 
corner of '"St. Thomas' Church" as she could well 
get. But we do not pretend that her object in so 
doing was to improve her morals. Neither would 
we like to affir:n that there was no need of a refor- 
mation. 



. COLORED FEMALE BEGGAR. 45 

There she sat, day after day, through a good part 
of my first winter in the city, and how long she had 
thus previously occupied the spot I know not. 

There she sat through wind and hail, through snow 
and rain, through dust and mud, through thick and 
thin, with an old brown camblet cloak so drawn 
around her as to give her the appearance of an old 
hen brooding her chickens, though I believe she had 
nothing under her but the side- walk. With the pa- 
tience of Job she kept her hand always lying on her 
lap, naked and open to receive alms, no matter how 
cold the day, the gift, the giver. It so happened that 
I passed her every day except the Sabbath, when 
she was absent ; perhaps from fear of hearing from 
the eloquent piistor of said church, or from some one 
else, a sermon on street-begging. 

The more I saw her the more was I satisfied that 
she was not worthy of alms. The more I saw her 
the more I disliked her face, without an}- regard to 
color or physical conformation. The more I wit- 
nessed her silent appeal for aid, the more was I an- 
noyed. And as she never spoke a word in my hear- 
ing, the reader will readily perceive that I was af- 
fected by " what I saw."" 

Having been accustomed to see everyone earn his 
own bread and butter, I hardly knew how to put up 
with such an exhibition — with what I regarded as an 
imposition; for, said I to myself, as I passed along, 
This woman looks as stout, and as able to endure 
hardship, as a Mississippi raftsman, and is probably 
better able to work than half the women in town ; 
and to sit here in this way, is a disgrace to herself, 



46 COLORED FEMALE BEGGAR. 

and a disgrace to the cit3^ Why do the people wink 
at such an insult? Every body admits the impro- 
priety of such a life, and yet no body seems to lift a 
finger to drive the beggar to the wash-tub. 

But what could a " greenhorn," right from the land 
of woodchucks, do, under such circumstances ? I will 
tell you what he did do, if you will pardon. the ego- 
tism, though you know that it is every author's pri- 
vilege to tell of some marvelous thing that he has 
done or seen. 

Weil, in due time I became acquainted with an 
honest, intelligent colored man, and I said to him one 
day, " Do you know a colored woman who sits dai- 
ly in Broadway on the corner of Houston-street ?" 

" Know her?" said he. " Don't you give her any- 
thing ; no, not a red cent. She is as bad as Satan him- 
self. Indeed, I know her too well, and all the money 
you give her, will do her and others more harm than 
good." 

I informed him that I was very much obliged for 
the frank information; and I at once resolved to 
turn it to some good account, if possible. 

It so happened that the very next time that I pass- 
ed that way, as I drew near, I saw a lady walking 
up toward the beggar, and knowing what it meant 
when I saw her take out her purse, I quickened my 
step and cried out, " Stop, Madam." 

No quicker siid than done. "Do you know. any- 
thing about this woman, sir ?" said she. 

I replied, that I had taken a little pains to know 
somotliing about her, and had reason to believe that 
she was not worthy of charity. 



COLORED FEMALE BEGGAR. 47 



"I am glad," said she, "to get this information, 
and you will please accept my thanks for this timely 
hint," and back went the money into her purse, 
quicker than it came out, as she tripped along with 
a heart doubtless full of benevolence, but wise 
enough to desire to give her money the right direc- 
tion. 

The beggar, heard our conv^ersation, and as soon 
as the lady turned her back, I gave her to under- 
stand that she might change her occupation as soon 
as convenient. " I have found out your character," 
said I, " and I am determined that you shall impose 
upon the charitable no longer. So now recollect that 
if I find you here to-morrow I will give an officer a 
hint to give 3'ou the benefit of another station." 

But she was so much of a philosopher that she 
said not a word. In sulJen silence she exhibited such 
a countenance as-pens fail to describe ; at least mine 
will. If the spirit of seven Cains had drawn every 
line, and shaped every expression of her face, she 
could not have looked worse. 

But neither had the officer nor the writer anything 
more to do in removing that unsightly appendage of 
St. Thomas' Church ; for, as I passed the next da}^ be- 
hold, the seat was vacant, and was thereafter occu- 
pied by an apple-pedlar until the present season, 
when the devouring element drove the congregation 
from their seats, and the pedlar from his stand. 

What had become of the woman, for a long time 
was more than I could tell. Some two or three 
years after her abrupt exit, while passing through a 
certain street, whom should I see but this very wo- 



48 BLIND BEGGAR. 



man, as she came out of a house to empty a pail of 
suds. I recognized her at once, although the wash- 
tub had greatly improved her countenance, and I pre- 
sume that she recognized me, although my success 
had probabl}- put a little different shade upon mine. 

BLIND BEGGAR. 

It SO happened that the next beggar who attracted 
my attention was a colored blind man, whose name 
is Anthony Riley. This person, it was evident at a 
glance, had claims to the sympathy and aid of those 
who have eyes to see, though it is equally clear to 
the writer that he took an improper way to obtain 
help. He genero.lly had a particular spot where he 
stood the live-long day. He said nothing and did 
nothing but hold his open hand supinely before him, 
to receive whatever was dropped therein. 

I have. passed him day after day from that time to 
this, and do not know that I ever saw him move the 
distance of one foot. I never saw him come, or 
go, though of course he did come and go. There, 
like a statue, he stood, and. there he stands yet ; 
though I think his reputation for punctuality is a 
little on the wane, for I have observed of late that 
he is occasionally absent from his post, and some- 
times for several days in succession. 

I said that he was ever silent, and yet he speaks 
incessantly. Three significant words — no more, no 
less — in large capitals, painted on a strip of tin tied 
across his breast, always constitute his solemn 
appeal to the public for help, namely, "I AM 
BLIND." 



BLIND BEGGAR. 49 



I recently called upon the poor man, who is no im- 
poster, and asked him a few questions, and the fol- 
lowing is the substance of the interview. 

" Well, friend," said I to him, " how long have you 
been blind ?" 

" About thirteen years, sir," said he. 

" How did you lose your sight ?" 

" By having inflammation of the brain." 
. "Have you a family?" 

" A wife and two children, sir." 

** Can you get enough in this way to support them 
and yourself, too ?" 

" It helps, and they help." 

" How much, and how little, do you ever get in a 
day ?" 

" Some days I do not get a shilling. At other 
times I get half a dollar, or even a dollar. Occasion- 
ally some gentleman gives me five dollars ; but this 
is very seldom my good luck. Take it through the 
year, I average less than half a dollar a day." 

" Well, in this dependent state, are you happy ?" 

" Far more so than I ever was before I lost my 
sight." 

" How can that be ?" 

" Why, sir, a man never knows that he is a man, 
until he begins to serve the Lord. Before I lost my 
eyes, I never knew what true happiness was. But 
now I understand it, and although I should be very, 
very glad to have the use of my eyes, yet I can now 
see many thuigs without my eyes, that 1 never saw 
when they were good.'' 

" I am glad to hear you say this, for it establishes 



50 THE IMPOSTEE. 



an interesting fact which is not generally laid to 
heart. It is an old saying that none are so blind as 
those who will not see. Perhaps this sore affliction 
has removed that kind of blindness which is here 
alluded to." 

" It has, sir. I believe it. I know it. My eyes are 
opened, and I see how miserable and helpless I am, 
without help from above. I now trust in the Lord, 
and find peace and comfort." 

" Well, thank him for what he has done for you, 
although he has used the rod, and trust in him for 
the future ; and in a little while you will have eyes 
to see, and your vision shall forever remain uncloud' 
ed." 

I left the poor man, thinking of those who were 
groping their way through this wilderness world in 
far more deplorable darkness than had settled 
upon the pathway of the colored blind man, because 
their eyes had never been opened to see how blind 
they were, 

THE IBIPOSTER. 

Some six or eight years since, while walking 
through Nassau-street, I discovered a man standing 
in front of the Tract House, who had hung out a sign 
similar to the one last described, but under circum- 
stances much more suspicious. His pasteboard Vv^hich 
certified that he was blind, had taken the place of an 
''nary shade for sore e3'es, so that his letters of 
^ion to the people perfectly hid his eyes 
'Ttain. 



BLIND SAILOR. 51 



Around him stood a circle of spectators, apparent- 
ly hesitating what to think of him. As he had taken 
so much pains to hide his visual apparatus, I was as 
skeptical as the rest, and accordingly walked up to 
him and said, " Friend, let me see your eyes," and 
without waiting for permission, raised the vail. 

" Ah ! yes, that eye is had enough, entirely gone. 
But open and let me see the other," said I, as I raised 
the lids. " Ah ! yes, good enough — too good to be 
here. That eye, sir, is as good as mine — perhaps 
better." 

By this time the boys began to be pretty restless^ 
and as I had seen enough of the impostor, to desire 
to see something else, 1 concluded to leave them to 
finish the investigation, which I believe they did, 
pretty effectually. 

But I suppose the man thought that he could afford 
to be a little annoyed by the urchins, for I heard the 
same daj^ that the lazy rascal had seven hundred 
dollars in some Savings-Bank. Since then, I have 
seen nothing of him. 

BLIND SAILOR. 

I have seen no blind man in the city who has in- 
terested me more than Henry Franklin, the " Blind 
Sailor^ He may be seen quietly sitting on the 
steps of the " Sailors' Home," City Hall, Tabernacle, 
in front of the City Hospital, or in other parts of the 
city. He is quite a pedestrian, and very unlike every 
im poster. 

On his lap lies a box, to receive through its small 
aperture on the top, such sums as earth's benevolent 



52 BLIND SAILOR. 



sons and daughters esteem it a privilege to drop in. 
Said box has also an apartment for cigars, to accom- 
modate those who are determined to go through the 
world by smoke, no matter whose eyes suffer, nor 
whose respiratory organs are paralyzed. 

But, if anywhere, here seems to be an apology for 
smoking, and we therefore recommend all those who 
indulge in the foolish and insalubrious habit, to buy 
their cigars of Henry Franklin. No matter how 
long it takes to find him. The longer the better. 

Henry Franklin has a peculiar, sedate, sickly 
countenance. Every line of his face bespeaks simple 
honest}'. And although I shall hereafter have occa- 
sion to condemn the habit of street-begging, and 
offer reasons why it should not be tolerated, yet let 
me say to the reader, if it is ever your lot to come in 
contact with this unfortunate, but worthy man, be 
not in a hurry to pass him, for it will do you no harm 
to exchange a few words with him, and if you light- 
en your pockets a little, take my word for it, it will 
lighten your heart as much. 

By his side lies his faithful, trusty spaniel, " Jack'' 
He is always there, and seems to take more notice 
of the mischievous boys than of the liberal-hearted 
who halt to make friends of the mammon of un- 
righteousness. The dog is nearly as peculiar as his 
master, and neither looks, nor acts like any other 
dog, and seems to have become almost a part of the 
Blind Sailor himself 

I have been greatly amused to see Jack lead his 
master across Broadway. Every one who is 
familiar with this street, is aware that it requires 



BLIND S.AILOR. 53 



a pretty good pilot to safely conduct many across 
this thronged thoroughfare. 

The spaniel seems to understand very well how 
long it will take to make the voyage, and whether 
any carriage which ma}^ be coming from either 
direction will be likely to overtake them before they 
reach the side walk. Hence, the dog stands still, 
looks up street and down, this way and that, and 
at the proper time he pulls a-head, while his 
master, with all the confidence that ever a soldier 
exercised in his commander, follows on, holding fast 
to the strap which is tied around the dog's neck, and 
which he keeps on the stretch as long as it is fair 
sailing. Whenever it becomes slack, the blind sailor 
knows that it is a signal to stop ; for he understands 
canine, as well as Jack does human calculations. 
In the month of October last, the man informed me 
that although Jack had served him seven years, yet 
he had never led him astray. 

Well, Jack, you are entitled to a silver pitcher, or 
a gold medal. At any rate, one would think that 
you ought to have something better than an old 
muzzle to prevent your correcting saucy boys. 

Yes, Jack, if you are in the habit of conducting 
your old friend from Wllliamsburgh to New York and 
back again daily, as he confesses, a distance of six 
miles, and if you are so upright and trustful that you 
have never led him astray, surely you deserve a 
monument to perpetuate the memory of your good 
deeds. 

But, where is the man who can say as much for 
his fellow ? 



64 BLIND SAILOK. 



Many pedestrians walk oar streets — some led by 
dogs, some by men, and some by ladies ; and all but 
the blind sailor are probably more or less led astray. 
But let not this seeming advantaii-e so lead ns out of 
the way as to forget Ileniy Franklin and others wljo 
need the assistance of dogs and men. 

I visited this need\^ man at the time spoken of 
above, to learn something about his history. " Well, 
neighbor," said I, '' how does the world use you, 
these days ?" 

" Well, most of the world treat me very kindly," 
said he. 

" But you meet with some gales on shore, I sup- 
pose, and rocks, and shoals, and undercurrents." 

" Indeed I do, and bdrrcn lands." 

" How long have you been blind?" 

" About ten years." 

*' How did you lose your sight ?" 

" By a flash of lightning, while I was close-reefing 
the main top-sail, on board the ship " West Chester." 

" Have you. ever been ship-wn-ecked V 

" O yes, on the Island of Flora, near the mouth of 
the river La Platte, where we lost our captain and 
cook, and I lost about eighteen hundred dollars, and 
every thing that I had except the clothes on my 
back," 

" Have 5^ou ever been ship- wrecked on shore V 
•K ** Well, it is pretty much like sailing ever^^where 
else," said he, smiling, which was rather rare. " I 
sometimes have wind and tide agaijist me. Some- 
times I have fair weather, and sometimes foul. But 



BLIND SAILOR. 55 



I am willing to take it as it comes, and run my 
chance with the rest of the world." 

** How old are you ?" 

*' A littJe more than forty." 

" Have you sailed the ship Charity ever since you 
lost your eyes ?" 

" Yes, I could sail no other." 

" Do you make good trips ?" 

" Well, the most that I ever made in a day 
was fifteen dollars, and that w^as a present from an 
old shipmate. The least that I generally get, is 
about eighteen or twenty cents. I average through 
the year, about seventy-five cents a day, which 
enables me to keep about square with the world, 
which is all I expect. People are not as liberal as 
they were eight years ago." 

" I suppose there are more objects of pity now. 
The channels of charity have become more numer- 
ous ?" 

" Perhaps so; but I don't think they are so liberal 
now as they were eight years ago." 

"How many passengers have you now on board 
the ship Charity ?" 

" A wife and three children." 

" Do they all bear a hand in a storm ?" 

"Well, my wife is cook on board, and does some- 
thing at washing and sewing, and the little children 
go to school. We just make out to keep from sink- 
ing, and that is about all that we can expect. But 
some people think that I am rich. T often hear them 
say as they are passing along, *0, that fellow is well 
enough ofi': I wish I had his purse,' &;c. But we 



56 BLIND SAILOR. 



just make out to keep square with the world, and 
this we think better than nothing.'' 

" O yes, for many a man with sharp eyes, hardly 
does that, and when he fails to pay his way, he is 
unhappy, for, do what he will, conscience will accuse 
him of eating another man's bread, and of sleeping 
on another man's feathers. But, as it is, are you 
happy ?" 

" Yes, except that my health is poor." 

" Well, your countenance does indicate that some- 
thing is not right. What seems to be the matter ?" 

" The doctors tell me that 1 have an aneurism of 

the aorta. Put your hand on my chest and see how 

it beats." 

*' Indeed it does, and your life hangs upon a brittle 
thread." 

" I know it. I am aware that I am liable to die 
in an instant, without a moment's warning." 

" Yes, you are, and in view of this, how do you 
feel ?" 

" I am ready to go." 

" It is a voyage of great moment, and through dark 
waters. Who is your Pilot V 

" The Lord Jesus Christ." 

" Very well, with him on board, a shipwreck is ut- 
terly impossible." 

" I believe in him ; he is all my trust," said he ; 
and the tears stole down the honest sailor's cheek ; 
and I parted with him as he sat upon the steps in 
front of the City Hospital, feeling that many who 
were rolling past him in wealth and finery, might 
exchange places with him to infinite advantage ; and 



POLITE BEGGAR. 



1 said to in3'self, may the good Spirit bless the poor 
hlitid sailor. 

Although the blind, as a class, are generally far 
more happy than one would at first suppose ; yet it 
is a serious calamity fov an}' one to lose the use of 
so important an organ as the eye. 

Indeed one shudders at the prospect of such nn 
event, and a fortune would often freely be given to 
prevent it, if money could avert such a doom. Hence 
if any are entitled to sympathy, surely the blind can 
claim a double portion. Let us remove even a straw, 
if it lies in the way of him who is trying to feel his 
way through the world as well as he can. 

As it is presumed that ever}' one feels a deep in- 
terest in the prosperity of that noble institution, the 
^^ New-York Blind Asi/lurn,^^ the reader will doubtless 
expect m.e to tell what I saw there, if any where. 
But this I beg leave to reserve for another page, as 
it will be more appropriately noticed in connection 
with other benevolent institutions. Moreover, we 
have not yet dismissed the subject of street-begging. 

In passing through Broadwa}^ a few weeks since, 
I observed that a new beggar had taken his stand — 
of course on the fashionable side of the street. He 
looked like a man in ordinar}- health, blessed with 
useful limbs, and a good measure of strength. Some, 
perhaps, would have called him a polite beggar, for 
either to show proper respect for such as might be 
moved to pity, or because he thought that nothing 
smaller than his hat would hold the deposits of the 
day, he stood bare-headed, holding his chapeau before 
him, bottom side up, to catch the falling chink, while 



58 POLITE BEGGAR. 



to the passing throng he bowed himself ahuost out 
of breath and out of sliape. 

" Well, friend," said I, as I drew near to see how it 
was with my neighbor, "can you get your hat full 
every day ?" 

*' Ah ! indeed, I get very little, sir," said he. 

" You don't work it rightly." 

" What shall I do, sir," said he, with a laudable de- 
gree of animation. 

" W^hy, sir, to humbug the people to good advantage 
or on a grand scale," said 1, " you must get a very 
gray wig and put it on j'our head: let your nails 
grow out very long, and get some colodion* and rnb 
it on your face to draw it up into wrinkles, or you 
* won't take' these twenty j'ears." This advice was 
of course mixed with as much gravity as circum- 
stances would permit. 

*'0, I don't wish to practice anj^ deception ; I mean 
to be an honest man, sir," said he. 

" Well, then you must not break the laws of our 
country. Do you not know that you are liable to be 
taken up at any moment and sent to Blackwell's 
Island r 

" Yes, 1 suppose I am ; but the people are very 
kind." 

Yes, the people were more to blame than the man; 
and this is the very reason why I give this subject 
the more prominence. There is a principle involved 
in this street-benevolence which is practically and 
radically wrong. Suppose that in going through 
Broadway, we meet ten beggars, and give each of 

* A liquid solution of gun cotton. 



GIVE CAUTIOUSLY. 



thera a shilling. And suppose that one out of ten 
(and this is a liberal allowance) is truly worthy of 
the gift. The other nine are vagabonds, liars, and 
imposters. What do we do ? 

Why truly we benefit the one a,nd injure the nine^ 
for if they are not worthy of charity, they are doubt- 
less injured by it, sooner or kiter. Perhaps by peep- 
ing into some Portei^ Hotisp^ a few minutes after 
emptying our pockets, we should hear the beggar 
saying to his comrades, and comrogues, " What v.'iil 
you drink?" 

But this is not all. We should indirectly injure nine 
others who are worthy, and who are suffering for the 
want of bread, and who con very easily be found, 
but not on the corners of the streets sounding a 
trumpet. It would undoubtedly be one of the best 
things that ever happened, to those w^ho are truly 
deserving a helping hand, to have this system of 
street-begging, and street-giving thoroughly broken 
up. And, if possible, it w^ould be a greater blessing 
still to those Vvdio are not w^orlhy. Instead of en- 
couraging them to lie, and cheat, and deceive, it 
would drive them to some honest employment. 

The influence of the various systems of street-beg- 
ging upon many children and youth, is truly lament- 
able. Of course I witness but a very small part of 
it myself; but I see enough every da\^ to sicken me. 
It was only yesterday that I had a brief interview 
with one of the junior members of the fraternitj' now 
under consideration. And although not very inter- 
esting or profitable, I will venture to report it. 

Well, I found my pen a little dozy, as its noddings 



60 JUVENILE BEGGAR. 

con- 
clude;} to take a short walk in Broadway, and had 
hardl\^ got into the street, before a mouth brimful of 
" Will you give me two or three pennies, sir?" was 
thrust into my ears. 

" For whatJ" said I. 

" Me mother is sick, sir, and there is four of us." 

"Four of what, or whom ?" 

" Four of w.sr, sir." 

" What do you mean ? Four sick ones, or four 
beggars, or four what ?" 

" No, sir, four of us." 

" O, I suppose you mean four children. Is that 
it?" 

"Yes, sir, that's what I mean. There is four of 
us." 

" But hasn't your mother got well, yet ?" 

" No, sir, she is very sick in bed." 

" Why she has been a long time sick, it seems to 
me." 

" Yes, sir, she has," said he, with a look of suspi- 
cion. 

" You are deceiving me, my lad," said I. " You 
have got no mother sick at home." 

Perhaps I ought to inform the inexperienced read- 
er, that during this interview, the little rascal, who 
was about ten years old, and as dirty as he was rag- 
ged, earned three pennies in trying to cry, if such an 
effort had been worth anything. It is hard work to 
cry when there is a prospect of good luck. Moreo- 
ver, this is the very time when they have to cry the 
harder. But crying beggars are somewhat like a 



JUVENILE BEGGAR. 61 

thunderstorm, in which there is more noise than 
rain. 

But I determined to put the boy's veracity to the 
test, though not my first determination of the kind, 
and as he solemnly affirmed that his mother was sick 
and need}^ and lived in West Washington Place, 
where I could see her for myself, and began to step 
around as though very willing to accompany me to 
her bedside, I said, " Very well, I will go right there 
with you this moment ; and if I find her as you re- 
present, something shall be done for her. But if I 
do not, something shall be done for you. Come 
along." ' 

He solemnly declared that he had told me the 
truth, and to try my sincerity and faith, started at a 
quick step ; and to try his honesty, I started at a 
quicker, in the direction of the said street ; and as we 
turned out of Broadway down Fourth-street, he at 
once fell behind, and 1 immediately hurried him up, 
keeping m}' eye upon him, lest he should give me the 
slip. 

It will be remembered that by this time, he had 
altogether stopped crying, as he had something else 
to think of, and enough else to do. But in crossing 
£1 street, I turned my eye from him, and didn't he run ? 
I doubt whether any boy ever ran from Mercer-street 
to Broadway, quicker, or whether he could have in- 
creased his speed to save his life. He never turned 
his head one way or the other until just as he was 
turning around the drug store on the corner, he look- 
ed back to see if I was after him. 

When he returned home with the proceeds of that 



62 JUVENILE BEGGAR. 



day's lying, to rehearse the perils and the prosperities 
of his undei-taking, his mother probably congratulat- 
ed him for having a pair of good legs to serve him, 
when his tongue failed ; and if he " brings down her 
gray hairs with sorrow to the grave," she will proba- 
bly find that it is her own fault. 

It is often hard for strangers and the inexperi- 
enced, who have a spark of benevolence, to resist the 
appeal of many a shrewd, professional beggar ; and 
especial!}^ the plea of a child. The poor things, many 
of them do indeed have a hard time of it, for they 
have been trying for years to raise money enough to 
pay for burying their mothers, who are in the habit 
of dying every day, and whipping their children 
every night that they fail to bring home money 
enough to pay for burying the living. I had almost 
said that it is a pity that they could not he buried, for 
their children would be better off, or could not well 
be worse ; and the community can afford to bury 
them once, to get rid of such an influence. 

These beggars understand human nature quite as 
well as do many whom they meet. They never ask 
for money to help them buy a horse, or build a house. 
It is easy to dispense with such a plea. But a starv- 
ing child, a dying mother, a lifeless corpse are argu- 
ments not so easily resisted. This they understand ; 
and of this they take advantage. Hence, they are 
all but starved, with more food than they can eat — 
their mothers are dangerously ill, while driving about 
town to watch the success of their lying children, 
and their fathers are dead, and their mothers can't 
bury them, because their husbands won't let them. 



BEGGAR BOARDING-HOUSES. 63 

But for the present we must let the beggars keep 
on begging, and the givers keep on givin;?, and the 
living refuse to be buried — it's a free country. 

Perhaps I ought to say a w^ord about Beggar- 
Boftrding-Houses. These establishments send out 
children to beg ''cold victtwh'^" for some poor wretch 
as above described, and in this way their tables are 
actually furnished to a very considerable extent if 
not in full. The fact cannot be disputed. More- 
over, the proprietor doubtless makes this a very pro- 
fitable operation, for whether his agents beg for cold 
victuals or sicill, it is a,ll the same. The best of 
course goes to the table, and the rest to the pig-pen. 
All very well. And why should any man complain 
so long as he is treated better than a hog ? Some do 
not, even when hogs, dogs, and men, all eat out of 
the same trough. 

But, lest the reader should come to the conclusion 
that our citizens are all beggars, and to some extent 
they are, we must let the unpleasant topic pass. We 
have somewhat enlarged upon this subject, because 
the inhabitants of this and every other town, are too 
much imposed upon, and because it is too much their 
own fault. ^ 

True, to excite sympathy there is every stratagem 
contrivable, resorted to, from the professed gentle- 
man, down to the little rogue of a match-pedlar, who 
has been trying his luck in deception for the last 
twelve months ; and who, whenever a favorable op- 
portunity occurs, cries loudly, and sobs lustily ; and 
to the question most naturally put to him by the ten- 
der-hearted spectator, he always has a stereotype 



64 JUVENILE STREET SWEEPERS. 

answer, namely, "Mother will lick me if I go home 
without selling my matches. Boo-hoo." Yet the 
people ought to be as wise to keep out of the trap, as 
the rogues are to get them in. 

But I often pity the poor little homeless outcasts 
who frequently stand shivering and gazing into the 
shop windows of our thoroughfares, longing in vain 
for things which they cannot obtain. They can al- 
most taste through the plated glass, the. tempting 
roundheart, or smoking doughnut. At another win- 
dow they stop to admire a little hat or coat which 
they cannot buy, and finally run home without being 
warmed or filled. 

At a difterent stage of life, we see others also 
standing before the glittering display in the mer- 
chant's window, and as their haggard faces, and shab- 
by garments are reflected from the burnished tea- 
pots or gilded mirrors, they are reminded of better 
days, of health departed, time abused, money wast- 
ed, hints despised, and hope destroj'ed, and they turn 
away with bitter regret, and find little sympathy. 

JUVENILE STREET-SWEEPERS. 

The eloquence of those little misses, who, with their 
brooms, ferry the good people of Gotham over the 
rivers of mud in Broadway and other thorough- 
fares, on a cold, rainy, snowy daj^ demands a 
hearing ear — who with their bare feet, and thin 
garments, busy bodies, and modest faces, are quite 
a spectacle, as they expose their lives and limbs to 
stupid drivers, and careless horses, so long as their feet 



JUVENILE STREET-SWEEPERS. 65 

do not freeze fast in the mud, which perhaps would 
be less deplored than the loss of their brooms, 

*' Please give me a penny for sweeping off the 
walk for you, sir," said one of these broomsters, on a 
certain occasion, when I would not have had the 
mud swept back again, before crossing, for double 
the money. This request was made with a soft and 
modest tone, and a face — we do sometimes see a sweet 
face under an old ragged bonnet, and a sprinkling of 
dirt — yes, a face that many a one in silk would 
give more than a penny to possess. I simply noticed 
her, but said nothing, preferring to get out of the 
way of rattling wheels. 

But when any one condescends to even look at 
them — the majority look straight a-head when they 
hear the word penny — they take it for granted that 
it will do to urge their requests, and so she conducted 
me safely to the shore, and then I felt inclined to 
consider her claim. Hence I entered into conversa- 
tion with her by asking if she followed that business 
for a living. 

" Yes, sir," said she, " in bad w^eather." 

** Don't it make your feet cold ?" 

« No, sir." 

" What keeps them warm?" 

" I don't know, sir. I only know they aint cold." 

" What do you do with the money which you get 
in this way ?" 

" Buy bread with it, sir." 

" What does your mother do at home ?" 

" She cuts carpet rags, sir." 

" Where does she live ?" k. 



66 JUVENILE STREET-SWEEPERS. 

" In Orange-Street, sir." 

** How much do you make in a day ?" 

*' Sometimes eighteen pence, and sometimes two 
shillings, sir." 

" What is the most that j^ou ever received in one 
day?" 

" About three shillings, sir." 

After congratulating her, and expressing a hope 
that she would make more still, that day, and giving 
her all that she asked for, which was too little, con- 
sidering that I kept her so long from her legitimate 
business, she said, " Thank you, sir," and at it she 
went, and the broom, and the mud, and the broth, 
peculiar to Broadwaj^, flev/ this way R.nd that, as 
fast as the busy wheels and horses' feet made a 
deposit. And it was sweep, sweep, " Please to give 
me a penny, sir," sweep, sweep — " Please to give me 
a penny for sweeping off the walk for you, sir ?" 
Sweep, sweep, sweep. 

CHIMNEY SWEEP. 

I must call the attention of the reader, for a 
moment, to another class of sweepers, quite as im" 
portant and useful as those just noticed above. 
They live on their honest earnings and with all their 
smoke, and dirt, and soot, and rags, are entitled to 
more respect than any man of whiter skin who wears 
finer cloth which he refuses to pay for. 

And what is still more— these chimney sweeps are 
not only useful members of community, giving us sweet 
houses, and clean puddings, but they are as happy ap. 
parent ly as any class with which I am acquainted. 



CHIMNEY SWEEP. 67 



Some of them sing, as they go through the streets 
announcing their calling, with a voice clear enough 
and musical enough to be admired ; and it is some- 
times quite amusing to hear them, though they are 
often as difficultly understood as the bobalink. But 
I must give the reader a specimen of such songs as 
can be understood and appreciated. 

"Here goes old sweep what's got no money — 
Here goes old sweep as sweet as honey." 

I know not but the old " sw^eep" who fortunately 
hit upon this song, the music of which I regret that 
1 am unable to give, has made enough from his con- 
certs, to retire, for I have not heard his ditty for se- 
veral years. 

Early in the morning they commence singing and 
travelling from street to street, carrying on their backs 
their tools. And since they have either become so 
fat, or chimnies have become so lank that the sweep- 
er cannot ascend them, as formerly, he is under the 
necessity of increasing his soot-gatherers, which con- 
sist of an old blanket, or its equivalent, a bundle of 
rods, brushes, scrapers, and a rope. 

They enter the apartment where the chimney is to 
be swept, and first hang up their blanket before the 
fire-place to prevent the escape of as much dust as 
possible. Then the brush and scrapers are sent on 
an exploring expedition. These are so- attached to a 
stick as to operate on all sides. But as the han- 
dle is only about four feet long, it must be spliced or 
never reach the top of the chimney. Accordingly 
the bundle of rods, of which I have spoken, are 
brought into requisition, each of which has a socket 



68 RAG-PICKERS. 



on one end, to receive the end of the next rod, and so 
in a little time, even sooner than the reader will find 
the end of the story, the brush finds the top of the 
chimney, and the sweeping commences. 

The rope to which I alluded, is fast at one end 
to the brush, and as the operator sends up his many- 
jointed broom-handle, he holds fast to said rope, oc- 
casionally winding it around the rods to hold th^m 
together, and thus the chimney is soon swept. The 
*' Sweep" then gathers up the soot, carries it out, and 
receives for each flue, two or three York shillings, 
and leaves the house " as sweet as honey." 

Presuming that my country readers understand all 
other kinds of sweeping better than I can tell them, I 
will pass to notice another class of characters, though 
I might speak of an army of "street-sweepers, the re- 
sult of whose labors is given on another page. These 
individuals occupy a very important position, for 
they can deal out to us health or pestilence, accord- 
to the manner in which they do their work ; and not 
unfrequently do they give us more than a supply of 
the latter. 

RAG-PICKERS. 

Quite a large number of citizens support them- 
selves by gathering rags and bones out of the gut- 
ters. Some of them, I understand, make more than 
a living by the operation. 

The lady-rag pickers quite attracted my attention 
when I first came to the city. But I soon discovered 
that all, both male and female, had one advantage 
over others of almost every craft. They could take 



RAG-PICKERS. 69 



their meals not only while digging for gold, hut free 
of expense, for the bones they gathered were not al- 
ways well picked. Hence, I was not so much sur- 
prised when I was informed that some of those dirty, 
smoky, shabby, greasy looking women would be out 
before night in their silks, and that they had plenty 
of money at interest. 

This industrious class who blush not for trifles, and 
care not for mud, may be seen with a bag slung 
across their shoulders, or a basket on their arms, into 
which they cast their treasure. They can see as 
good money in an old worn-out dish-cloth under a 
hogs's foot in the gutter, or in a chicken's bone in the 
mud, as the merchant can in silks and satins, and pro- 
bably prosper about as well, and quite as seldom 
fail. 

In one hand they carry a small iron rod, with a 
handle on one end, and a hook on the other, and with 
this they search for hidden treasure, and when they 
find it, bag it, and search again, and through and 
through every street, nook and corner they go, very 
much as a young turkey goes through a field search- 
ing for grasshoppers, and sees nothing else. 

The bone-boilers and bone-grinders, dog-killers 
and horse-skinners, hot-corners and ice-creamers, 
street-singers and bell-ringers, and many other im- 
portant personages will pardon us for not giving 
them a special notice on the present occasion. These 
are all good in their place. But for some of them, 
we think their proper place is a good way out of 
town. Moreover, we have those of other callings, 



70 RAG PICKERS. 



and many of them who can very well be spared, if 
our country friends w^ould like their services. 

A city life, in many respects, is a life of more pri- 
vation and peril, than is a residence in rural districts. 
In some it is less. Those who reside in the city are 
generally subjected to the morbific influence of se- 
dentary habits, insalubrious air, and frequently un- 
healthful food, especially as respects vegetable edi- 
bles. Moreover, they are more exposed to a perni- 
cious moral influence, especially children and youth. 



GAMBLING. 

There is hardly a greater moral pestilence in the 
city than the fearful and wide- spread spirit of gam- 
bling, in its multifarious forms and phases. It leads 
to poverty, miser}^ disgrace, crime, and death. It 
begins at the present day, almost in the cradle, and 
the gambler is found in high life and low, among the 
rich and the poor, in the circles of the young and the 
aged, the honorable and the despised. The influence 
of this practice is very much the same in every place 
and under all circumstances, whether money or pro- 
perty is at stake ; and whether the winner gains lit- 
tle or much. 

Gambling is very much like intemperance, in many 
important particulars^ The habit is seldom acquired 
at once ; and when acquired, is almost as seldom at- 
tended with a reformation. It poisons the mind, per- 
verts the judgment, stifles the conscience, and sends 
to the bottomless abyss its deluded votaries. And as 
we can hardly expect to reclaim those who are far 
gone in this vice, we intend the few hints which we 
have to offer, mainly to warn the innocent to beware 
of the first step. And especially with jjarents we 
would plead with tears, in behalf of their sons, for 
the fairest hopes and brightest prospects of many a 
mother have been sadly blasted by the utter ruin of 
a darling son, or bosom companion, in the dens of 
death to which the unwary resort. 

I rejoice to see some well directed efforts made for 



^2 GAMBLING. 



the suppression of this monster vice. But as yet, all 
that has been done hardly amounts to a beginning. 
It is not a drop in the bucket. 

The heart-rending effects of gambling upon all 
classes — the extent to which it is carried — the fright- 
ful number and ruin of its victims, and the means 
and arts used every day, and every night to draw into 
its dark and bottomless gulph, new recruits of such 
as can be easily led on step by step, as unsuspectingly 
as the lamb is led to the slaughter, presents an array 
of startling facts quite sufficient to demand united 
and determined action, and ought at once to enlist 
such a mighty anti-gambling association as shall 
move forward with redeeming power. 

The germ of gambling in our city may every day 
be seen in the streets. The beginning is on a small 
scale. The players are the boys, and the gambling- 
table is the side- walk. These uncared-for boys man- 
age to get a few pennies by begging, stealing, or by 
some little service, they care not what, and then they 
are ready to commence operations, and are eager to 
get a chance at a game. The excitement commences, 
and they gradually draw around them boys who are 
more respectable. Their favorite games are pitching 
coppers, throwing them up for heads, betting on mar- 
bles, &c. 

Now-, " coppers change hands rapidly, and on a 
small scale, you can see developed all the passions 
of the veteran gambler." -' . . v \ 

"But young ambition soon takes a htg^lier flight," 
and the aspiring youngster soon lands at the bowling- 
saloon, takes a few lessons there, and mounts a step 



GAMBLING. 73 

'W-l^/-^>V- — • 

4ttgfe€i-, and is found at the billiard-table where his 
expertness is marvelously developed, and his scruples 
of conscience pretty effectually muzzled. 

He is soon ready for the faro-table — he has chosen 
his profession, finished his apprenticeship, embarked 
in his trade, his career becomes desperate and his 
destiny fixed. 

During all this time, his parents perhaps never 
suspect any danger, and when the fearful truth is re- 
vealed, a father's remonstrance, or mother's tears 
will not avail to break up the confirmed habit, and 
reclaim their ruined son. 

A very extensive gambling operation is carried on, 
to the disgrace of our city, and in violation of the 
laws of our State, in the traffic of lottery tickets. 
" A few weeks since," says a writer, " we were stand- 
ing near the door of one of the most fashionable lot- 
tery offices in Ann street. 

" A woman meanly clad, with an infant in her 
arms, approached the office. The babe was scream- 
ing to the top of its voice, but the mother appeared 
wholly unconscious of its cries. Her face was 
flushed with the hope that she should hear of the suc- 
cess of her favorite numbers. But she was doomed 
to disappointment. On entering the office, she was 
told that the figures she had bet upon were unsuc- 
cessful. We never saw such a change of expression 
in so short a time. 

" As she escaped the threshold of the office, her 
countenance was pallid, her whole aspect bore the 
marks of deepest anguish. The cries of her child 
r^ox*/- i'-^'i^ epp.med to attract her notice. But every 



74 GAMBLING. 



other emotion was swallowed up in her keen sense 
of the loss of her adv^enture. 

" We were anxious to know her condition, and 
followed her home. It was in the basement of a 
miserable tenement in Pearl-street. She had four 
other children, the eldest of whom was not more than 
eight years of age. They were almost naked. They 
had nothing to sleep on but one wretched straw-bed 
and a few old rags. Not a spark of fire was in the 
room. There was no food but a scant supply of cold 
fragments, furnished by a family that lived in the 
next room, and which they were devouring with the 
voracity of starving pigs. 

" The mother, we found on inquiry, to be a hard 
working woman, of temperate habits, and addicted 
to no vice but her fatal prop^'usity for lottery gam- 
bling. The father was intemperate and spent all his 
earnings for rum." 

What a wretched picture ! What a gloomy pros- 
pect for these poor, helpless, innocent children, and 
what a sad example. This destitution, leads not only 
to present distress, but to disease and premature 
death in generations to come. Want of sufficient 
food, and clothing, and pure air, too often produces a 
scrofulous constitution, which frequently leads to 
consumption, and this terrible disease, when once ac- 
quired, (no matter, how.) becomes hereditary and 
sweeps off generation after generation ! 

To parents, we would here give one hint, a jirnctical 
hint. We need not say, keep your sons out of the 
society of blacklegs. We do not suppose that one 
father or mother, in ten thousand, has the least sus- 



GAMBLING. 75 



picion that he or she needs any such advice. But we 
do say, make your own fireside as attractive as possible. 
Remember that amusement is essential, nay, indis- 
pensable to health and happiness — that it must, and 
should, and will be had, and if that which is harmless 
cannot readily be obtained, that which is hurtful will 
almost certainly be substituted. Therefore make it 
a matter not only of expediency, but of duty, to pro- 
vide amusements at home. 

The mother always begins just right, but she fre- 
quently stops a little too soon. She gives the baby 
in the cradle, a " rattle box." This is an admirable 
beginning. Please to carry out that principle. But 
don't think for a moment, that because the baby has 
got too old to be longer amused with the toy, it there- 
fore needs nothing else. The child, the youth, the 
man just wants a substitute for the rattle-box ! But 
let them have a safe one, and have it at home. 

This is a subject of much importance, and we 
should like to dwell longer upon the salutary in- 
fluence of suitable and healthful amusement at the 
fireside, so as to make home the most attractive spot 
in this vale of tears. But we presume it will hardly 
be expected. If parents could see all the tears which 
have been poured out upon the pathway of many a 
ruined son — could feel the throbbing heart — hear the 
agonizing groan of the despairing mother, and realize 
that there was a time when all this could have been 
prevented by early attention to this very principle, 
probably they would not be long in coming to the 
conclusion that they had better look at the subject in 
the right light. 



76 GAMBLING. 



Moreover, we are constrained to believe that 
among a certain class, many children are ruined in 
the nursery. A child, for example, is disobedient, 
and old enough to know it. The mother is to some 
extent aware of the danger of letting it pass un- 
noticed, and threatens to get a rod, if such an im- 
propriety or wilful act is again committed. The 
child, for good reasons, don't believe it, and quickly 
puts the mother's veracity to the test. 

" Now," says she, " if you do that again I will 
pretty nearly take your skin off." 

The child don't believe that either, and hesitates 
not to do the same thing, or something worse, as soon 
as circumstances offer a sufficient inducement. 

" There, take that ! you little good for nothing — 
didn't I tell you that you would get it," says the 
mother, as she gives the child a little tap which is 
sufficiently refined to make the little rebel more rebel- 
lous than ever. With a surly face, and in a mutter- 
ing rage, he goes away and does worse than before — 
gets a harder rap — bawls a good deal louder — gets 
two or three slaps and a big piece of sugar. When 
that child gets to be a little older, it will take more 
than a lump of sugar to keep him out of bad com- 
pany, or from any place where inclination leads. 
But we are somewhat digressing, although we are 
telling just exactly what we have seen in New York 
and in New Hampshire too. 

There is not only more gaming in all large towns 
than in rural districts, but more dissipation, more 
daring outrage, more crimes of almost every hue. 
Pretty conclusive evidence of this mav be obtained 



GAMBLING. 77 



by making an excursion through our p7^iso?is. Hence 
we keep our locks and keys, " and bolts and bars, 
watching for thieves and robbers, day and night. 
And with all these on the alert, and Policemen to 
whistle, and dogs to bark, and prisons to hold the 
rogues, nothing is safe. 



THE TOMBS. 

This appellation, by which our City Prison is 
known, is somewhat appropriate both as respects its 
appearance and function. The number of commit- 
ments during the past year, for every variety of 
crime, and for no crime at all, was 16,279. The 
shortest term of sentence in this prison is five days. 
Many, however, are committed for the night, or tem- 
porarily for the sake of convenience or safety, pre- 
paratory to being sent elsewhere, such as the insane, 
vagrants, &c. The average term is about seven 
days. 

After getting within the gloomy walls, and receiv- 
ing a ticket that I might not be compelled to serve 
out an average term, I inquired for my friend Dr. 
Covel, and was directed to the Medical Office, and 
as I entered it, the Doctor turned my attention to 
what had once been a human being, and what else 
he was still, I know not, though the most wretched 
looking specimen of humanity that ever a mortal at- 
tempted to describe. 

" There !" said the Doctor, " is a man who is sick 
of life. We cut him down after he had hung him- 
self up by the neck this morning." 

One glance was sufficient to reveal the cause. 
The face, the eyes, the voice, the breath, the motion, 
the intellect, all testified to the doings of rum, and it 
was truly a spectacle most horrible and revolting. 
He was well-nigh eaten up alive. 



THE TOMBS. 79 



*' What is 5^our name ?" said I. 

"James Mansfield,", said he. 

" Why did you do such an act?" 

" My time had come !" 

" What time ?" 

" The set time." 

"What do you mean by set time ?" 

" My time to go." 

"Togo where?" 

" To the devil. Wliy, they sold me to the devil 
more than a week ago, and the time is up !" 

"Who sold you to the devil?" 

•"Why they did— them fellows." 

" O nonsense !" 

*'Ah! it is no laughing matter, and if they had 
only let me alone this morning, they would have 
saved all this fuss. I should have been out of the 
way slick enough. They had better minded their 
own business." 

" Well, will you try the rope again ?" 

"O no. My time is up, now." 

" How do you know ?" 

" 1 was told so yesterday." 

" Where were you told so ?" 

" In the Tombs, when I was praying." 

"Who told you so?" 

" I heard it from heaven, yesterdaj^ My time is 
up. The Alniighty told me so himself; I heard him 
say so, and, therefore, there is no mistake about it. 
No, sir, not a bit. I shall not be alive this evening 
at six o'clock ! No, no. I am sold, my time is up." 

Pretty nearly, sure enough, said 1 to myself. But 



80 THE TOMBS. 



ropes can be dispensed with, it is also true. A few 
more drinks, and another attack of delirium tremens 
will probably finish the work of destruction ! But 
oh ! w^hat an end ! " Sold to the devil !" How hor- 
ribly shocking your prospects, poor James Mans- 
field ! Yes, I sincerely fear that thou art " sold to 
the devil," for rum, and if the mental, moral, physi- 
cal, and financial resources of the entire city all 
combined, could redeem thee, fallen and besotted as 
thou art, the sacrifice would not be too great, for thou 
art immortal ! 

Poor man ! Who had a right to sell thee to the 
devil, and who gave that man his authority ? Go, 
and take a seat at his table, drink from his cup and 
stand before his mirror, sit on his sofa, lie on his 
lounge, ride in his carriage, show him your neck and 
ghastly face, and burning eyes, and tremulous hand, 
and tell him that you will never leave him until your 
"time is up," unless he shall say at once to the de- 
vil's agent, thou shalt no longer be steward, and take 
away from him his license. 

This sad spectacle so distressed and sickened me, 
that I well nigh resolved to leave the prison at once, 
thinking that I had seen enough. But as I turned 
away from the poor object of pity and disgust,"! 
will show you the Sandwich Islander, Peter How- 
land, better known as * Spanish Pete,' " said the doc- 
tor* "the man who a few days since beat a colored 
man to death with a bed-post, and kept the police 
at bay for several hours." 

And there he sat flat on the granite floor near a 
stove, a dark, dirty, surly, muscular looking savage, 



THE TOMBS. 81 



ill irons, without any apparent concern. I inquired 
if he could speak English ? "A little," said the doc- 
tor. 

I asked him a few questions, and the substance of 
what I could understand was> that he had followed 
a seafaring life, had been a sailor on five different 
ships, had been in London and other different ports, 
and that somebody had told him to kill the colored 
man, and then they would get his old clothes. 

His throat and one eye bore the marks of rough 
usage which was needful to capture him. This visit 
to the prison occurred last winter. Since that time 
he has had his trial, and the poor savage has been 
sent to the Lunatic As\'lum. 

I went also into the cell in which Patrick Delany 
was confined for the murder of Mary Mclntyre, and 
asked him if he would permit me to have a little 
chat with him. 

" O yes, sir, I am glad to have you come in," said 
he, and he spread a clean newspaper on the edge of 
his iron bedstead, for me to sit upon — a very accept- 
able cushion at such a time, and in such place, and 
indeed in any place, and under any circumstances, 
whenever a man offers the best he has. We had a 
long talk about the murder, but as he has also since 
had his trial, the result of which has been made pub- 
lic, namely, a verdict of manslaughter, and sentence 
of confinement in the State Prison for three years 
and nine months, I will not trouble the reader with 
the substance of the interview, except that I inquir- 
ed how many drinks he had taken that night before 
the fatal deed, and he replied, " about six." 



THE OLD MATCH FACTORY. 

Having once had occasion to call at this estab- 
lishment which had formerl)'^ been famous for loco- 
foco matches, though now transformed into a ^'hu- 
man beehive,''^ I will here introduce a brief account of 
my visit to it. It will perhaps enable some of my 
country readers to appreciate the contrast between a 
beehive in the city, where more honey is eaten than 
made, and a modest cottage in the country, where the 
owner can say, " I am monarch of all I survey." 

Moreover, the Old Match Factory is as much a 
part of New-Yorlc, as is Trinity Church, or Barnum's 
Museum, or Tom Thumb, 

FIRST STORY 

After entering the premises, which were about as 
accessible as Broadway, supposing that it would of 
course be easy to ascertain whether a certain indi- 
vidual was there or not, I knocked at the first door 
that I came to, and inquired for Mr. Hall, and was 
told to go to the next door, as the good woman had 
been there but about a week, and of course could 
not say much about the numberless swarms in the 
old hive. 

So I went on and called at the next apartment, and 
was met at the door by, not an Anglo-Saxon, or An- . 
glo- American, and whether he were Anglo- Danish or 
Anglo-Something else, I could not well ascertain, not 
having an interpreter, and hence I called at the next 



THE OLD MATCH FACTORY. 83 

door, and after one or two good knocks, and a little 
patience, I was glad to meet a man who could say, 
" How do you do ?" I told him my business, and ask- 
ed him if he knew a Mr. Hall residing there. 

"Mr. who?" said he. 

" Mr. Hall." 

*' I don't know any such man here. Do you say 
his name is Hall ?" 

" Yes, sir." 

" Hall — Hall — let me see — is he a carman ?" 

" No." 

"Is he a butcher?" 

"No." 

"A tailor?" 

"No." 

" I don't think I know any such man here, sir, but 
you had better inquire on the next floor, for I am 
pretty sure he is not on this." 

SECOND STORY. 

I took his advice, and, after ascending the stairs, 
the great thoroughfare branched out into numerous 
avenues, winding hither and thither among the 
nations ; and whether every tribe on the face of the 
earth had a representative there, or not, I was not 
able to decide. Suffice it to say, that I met Yankees 
and Dutchmen, Irish and Frenchmen, English and 
Scotchmen, and others who could neither understand 
me, nor could I understand them any more than if the 
parties had said ching, ching — chong, chong ; and here 
my efforts were as vain as before. 



84 THE OLD MATCH FACTORY. 

THIRD STORY. 

Not willing to give it up, I ascended a peg higher, 
and by this time I began to find out that it was not 
so easy a matter to ascertain who lived in the Old 
Match Factory as I at first supposed. Not quite dis- 
couraged however, I again commenced the ^''Rochester 
Knockings,'^ and one of the " spirits" soon manifested 
a willingness to make such revelations as comported 
with her stock of information. 

She was a fat, good-natured, greasy, broad faced, 
gray-eyed woman, and long enough from Dutchland 
to speak English, though at first her mouth was too 
fall of dinner to articulate. To my inquiries respect- 
ing IMr. H. she said it was difficult to tell who were 
in that building, as so many were continually moving 
out and moving in. I asked her how they all lived 
there. 

" I don't know," said she, laughing, " but you see we 
live, ha. ha, ha," and dovvn went a respectable roll of 
bread, followed up by as large a slice of meat as would 
be considered safe, by any prudent grey-hound. 

But as she did not invite me to take any refresh- 
ments, I tapped at the next door, and inquired for the 
lost man, and all the satisfaction that I could get 
there, was, " verstand neicht-'^ And so I went on 
poking and groping, knocking and asking for Hall, 
and although I did not find the Hall, yet I found too 
many by half, and in the superabundance, lost my 
way once or twice, and found myself knocking at 
the door where I had called before. Hence I con- 
cluded to make an effort on the next floor, and 
resolved that, Hall or no Hall, I would go no higher. 



THE OLD MATCH FACTORY. 85 



FOURTH STORY. 

After getting pretty well up in the world, I went 
on knocking and seeking information as usual, meet- 
ing all sorts of folks and receiving all sorts of answers 
but the right one. Success in my undertaking, now 
began to look rather squally, so much so, that I felt 
quite inclined to give it up for a bad job, and con- 
cluded to make the last call, and walked straight up 
to the nearest door, and gave one or two good loud 
raps. 

" Come in," shouted an honest-hearted Irishman ; 
and I accepted the invitation. " I am looking for a 
man by the name of Hall," said I, " and I understand 
that he is stopping somewhere in this building, but 
as 1 have not yet been able to find him, I called to 
see if you could give me any information concerning 
him. Do you know any sach man here, sir f 

" Bliss your dear soul and body, if St. Patrick was 
here himself, sir, he could hardly tell who is in this 
building, yer honor." 

" How many families have you got in this esta- 
blishment ?" 

*' More nor I can count. A hundred, sir, I suppose, 
besides all the men, women, an' children which are 
now on the way from Kilkenny till New York. You 
had better axe the Agent, sir." 

" Where does he live ?" 

" Faith an' you are after axing me a hard question, 
yer honor, for I am only stopping here a few weeks, 
and so I am a little green. Yet he lives somewhere 
in this building, and if you will wait till me auld 



86 THE OLD MATCH FACTORY. 

woman comes in and takes the baby, I will see if I 
can find his quarters." 

But I concluded to save the kind-hearted Corkonian 
the trouble, thanking him for his advice, thinking that 
the Agent, sure enough, ought to know at least the 
names of his tenents, but was even disappointed in 
this respect, for, after finding him, he said he could 
not tell whether he had any such tenant or not. 

Now lest the reader should conclude that the 
writer has followed facts less than fancy, in giving a 
brief history of his unsuccessful adventures in the 
Match Factory, he begs leave to present an incident 
which occurred at the Polls, on the day of an elec- 
tion in that District. 

I suppose the reader is aware that the city is 
divided into several Districts, and that each man 
must vote in his own district, if he votes at all, and 
also give his name, the street in which he resides, and 
the number of his house. 

Well, w^hen the election day came, that is, after 
the old Match Factory had discharged its brimstone 
and splinters, and received instead thereof, husbands, 
wives, babies, cooks, cats, dogs, rags, butter and 
cider — swarms of yeomen sallied forth with votes 
in hand which they could neither count nor read, 
to help to make a President of these United States. 

*' What is your name ?" was of course the first 
interrogation. The answer being given, " Where do 
you live ?" was the next question. 

" On the corner of Forsyth and Stanton-street," 
was the answer ; and the questions, with the same 
answers were multiplied until the Inspectors became 



THE OLD MATCH FACTORY. 87 

SO suspicious that all could not be right, that they 
dispatched in post-haste, two officers to ascertain 
whether honesty or deception was the order of the 
day, and they returned so well satisfied that many 
more might reasonably be expected from the old 
hive before night, to help fill the boxes, that the 
scores of votes from that famous house were received 
at par after that. 

This information I received from a gentleman who 
lives not only in the district, but within a stone's 
throw of the said building, and his statement is 
unquestionably correct. 

But let not the reader suppose for a moment, 
that the greatest amount of poverty, wretchedness, 
and crime, are found in this establishment. Not at 
all. It appears to be comparatively a quiet place, 
and some of the tenants seem to have many com- 
forts. Indeed it is a mansion, compared wdth many 
other places, where human beings congregate, live, 
and die ! 

Perhaps we shall have no more appropriate time 
or place, for a notice of a portion of our fair city, 
which is not altogether the most inviting part of 
New^ York. It nevertheless, in some respects, de- 
serves a notice, as much as those favored spots 
which are the very cream of our emporium. 



FIVE POINTS. 

. With a little pains-taJdng, any one can see at a 
glance what poverty and indolence, crime and igno- 
rance, disease and pestilence can do, does do, and 
will do in this wretched community, if the same 
neglect of the wise and good, which has character- 
ized years past, shall be continued for years to 
come. 

But we hope for better things. A better day 
seems to be dawning . Most of the inhabitants of 
this section of our city have too long been considered 
hopelessly abandoned, irreclaimably lost, and un- 
worthy of any effort to improve their condition, 
physically, mentally, or morally. 

Nevertheless this portion of our race, fallen and 
polluted as many of them are, has not been altoge- 
ther forgotten of late. 

During the past year, the Rev. Mr. L. M. Pease, a 
Methodist Clergyman, went as a Missionary into that 
district and took up his residence in the midst of the 
fallen and degraded, and began a self-denying work. 
And for his self-denial, perseverance, and success, 
he is entitled to much credit. 

Nay, more, he is entitled to the sympathy of all 
the good, the money of all the rich, and the atten- 
tion of all the skeptical and thoughtless. This 
gentleman, though a spare man, and in delicate 
health, is a perfect giant among the " natives," and, 
as another Missionary said to me, " he walks right 
over them." 



FIVE POINTS. 89 

He has received many hints from various quarters, 
that his doings are not altogether relished. But he 
heeds them not. They growl and bark, but never 
bite. To show their teeth is about as much as the 
worst of them are willing to take the responsibility 
of at present. The City Prison, of which we have 
spoken, is a little too near, even at their very doors. 
They have threatened to blow him up : but he goes 
a-head, and fears not. 

Now, how much good may eventually be done 
among this class, we do not pretend to say, nor how 
much has already been done, for it is now some 
months since we visited that notorious spot for the 
purpose of collecting information, when we had 
an agreeable interview with that indefatigable Mis- 
sionary. 

But that much has, and more will be accomplished 
for the physical and moral good of many of the erring 
mortals of this locality, I have not a doubt. And 
this is better news to all who long for the improve- 
ment of our race, than to hear of the unrivalled 
success of any time-serving demagogue in our land, 
for the reputation of this district is very widely 
known, and deeply deplored. 

Mr. Pease has found it indispensable in many 
cases to provide first for the temporal wants of the 
wretched. At the time that I saw him, he had 
caused one hundred and fifty w^omen to learn the art 
of shirt-making, and obtained employment for them, 
and half as many more had learned to make pants, 
vests, &c. 

t^ome days he distributed fifty or sixty loaves of 



90 THE OLD BREWERY. 

bread among the hungry ; and little children daily 
hang upon him as though tlieir existence depends 
more upon his favors than a mother's love. 

Moreover, he has established a large day school, 
and a Sabbath school — has opened a house for 
worship, and has a weekly temperance meeting, 
5/vhich is well attended, and has already brought 
forth good fruit. 

But as many a restless murmuring mortal is 
always making himself miserable by comparing his 
lot with those upon whom fortune has lavished more 
smiles ; or, to be a little more definite, who fancies 
that his neighbor's enjoyments are at least one-third 
more than his, because he lives in a house one-third 
higher, I will give the reader an opportunity of 
becoming, by the rule of comparison, the happiest 
man in creation. 

But 1 hope, however, that he will not expect me to 
tell all that I saw in this part of New York. Not 
quite, if you please. Don't be too inquisitive. 

THE OLD BREWERY. 

My first call was of course on my friend. Pease, 
and after a pleasant chat he asked me if I had ever 
visited " The Old Brewer}^' which I found to be 
standing within half-a-dozen rods of his abode. 1 
replied that I had long had a curiosity to visit that 
old relic of ruin, but did not even know where it 
stood. 

" Well, let us go and see it," said he. " But you 
will hardly want to tell the people that you have 



THE OLD BREWERY. 91 

come to see how bad they look, and so I will give 
you a bundle of Tracts to take along with you." 

"A very lucky thought," said T, " for I suppose they 
are just what they need, and with a bundle of Tracts 
I can go anywhere." 

So we took our Tracts and started out, and almost 
the first building that I saw after opening his door, I 
recognized at once as the veritable Old Brewery, the 
famous old beer-shop whose history is so widely 
known. Its very appearance convinced me that I 
could not be mistaken, and my friend confirmed the 
supposition. 

'' Now," said he, as we were going in, " I will 
introduce you to a good old temperance man even in 
this building, who knows every part of the establish- 
ment, and will show you through it, and after you are 
satisfied with seeing the nooks and corners of the 
Brewery, call at my house." 

This being done, he went about his business, and 
we about ours. 

My worthy guide, whom I found to be by trade a 
chair-maker, cheerfully laid aside his mahogany 
rocker, brushed off the chips and shavings, and pre- 
pared to start. But I had forgotten his name, and 
to my inquiry respecting it, he answered, " My name 
is John Burke : but they call me the Old Man of the 
Brewery and Father of Temperance.'''' 
• " How long have you lived in this building ?" 

" More than thirteen years, sir." 

" How long have you been a temperance man ?" 

" About ten years, and I was more than three 
quarters drunk when I took the pledge ; and for 



92 THE OLD BREWERY. 



thirty years before, I ceased not to drink up my 
earnings, day and night." 

" Well, I am heartily glad that you have got out of 
that trap which holds so many fast for life. Do you 
preach temperance here in this building ?" 

" O yes, I try to do that, and we are going to have 
a temperance meeting to-night, right over there on 
the corner. What a hard corner that used to be, 
before Mr. Pease came here. You must be there 
to-night, sir." 

" I shall endeavor to be there, and shall expect to 
meet you." 

" Always there every Friday night." 

"Well, you must have witnessed a good many 
interesting reformations, since you began to preach 
temperance in this old building, where a different 
doctrine was formerly advocated." 

*' O yes, if I had time I could give you a good many 
interesting anecdotes on that subject." And as we 
stood in the door, he pointed up street and said, "Up 
there a little way, on a cold night in February, a 
man, his wife and child, were turned out into the 
street, because they did not pay their rent. The 
man was a miserable drunkard. I knew him well. 
One of my neighbors said to me, 'John, such a family 
are in the street to-night, and they have no where to 
go, and if you do not take them in, I fear they will 
suffer.' * Bring them along,' said I, ' and I will do the* 
best I can for them.' And so they came in. I had a 
good fire, and after the man sat and warmed himself 
awhile, he began to get sober, and he said, ' John, 
you are very comfortable here.' 



THE OLD BREWERY. 93 



" * Yes,' said I, * and you can be just as comfortable 
as I am, if you will take the pledge, and more so, for 
you have got a better trade than I, and you can get 
better wages.' He took the pledge, and has now six 
hundred dollars in the Savings Bank.^^ 

Reader, if you have a friend or a neighbor who is 
now serving this cruel master, strons: drink, rest not 
till you take him into your house, and warm him by 
your own fire, feed him at your own table, put your 
own clean coat upon him, and he will go and do like- 
wise, and his heart, if not your back, will be all 
the warmer for it. 

Well, after this chat, we walked up a flight of 
stairs, for the " Old Man of the Brewery and Father 
of Temperance" (he likes to be called by this name) 
had his shop on the lower floor. At the first door he 
knocked, went in, and I followed, and was much sur- 
prised to find in the old musty building such an ap- 
pearance of thrift. The floors were carpeted, the beds 
were tidy, the furniture clean, and on every face, a 
smile. 

" What does this mean ?" said I to my guide, after 
we left the room. " I was not prepared to find so 
many comforts here. This looks like living, after all." 

He laughed heartil}', and much enjoyed my disap- 
pointment. " I will tell you what it means," said he. 
" These folks have taken the pledge. They are tem- 
perance folks ; that's all." 

Through other apartments he led me, and seemed 
greatly gratified to be able to say "these, too, are 
temperance folks," and I was not a little pleased to 
see what temperance had done in the Old Brewery. 



94 THE OLD BREWERY. 

" T will now show you the difference between cold 
water and n^wi," said he, as he led the way into ano- 
ther part of the beer factory, where I could neither 
boast of carpets, nor clean beds — no, nor pleasant 
faces. 

As soon as we entered the precincts of the family 
circle in one of the apartments, a great, strapping, 
greasy-looking, cross-grained rum-soaked woman 
hurled her anathemas at the whole community over 
my shoulders, because so many came in to see how 
she looked, and left her never a penny the richer 
for it. 

I would gladly have given her a sixpence to hold 
her peace, and considered it cheap at that, but I 
thought it advisable to let the rum get out of her as 
soon as possible, and so I said, " 1 have a good Tract 
to give you, the title of which is ^ Peace to the Troii- 
bledf and I think it is just adapted to youp case.'^ 
She, however, was not inclined to believe it. A 
man (her husband I suppose, if she had any) was 
sawing up a board for firewood, and apparently so- 
ber, said he could read and took the Tract, and we 
took lea^e. 

In the next room which we entered, we found an 
afflicted family. Small-pox had entered the abode, 
and claimed a dear child as its prey, and perhaps it 
was the best thing that could have happened to the 
victim. 

We looked at its face, and sure enough it could 
hardly afford the ordinary melancholy gratification 
which a bereaved parent craves, as a last resort. " A 
sad calamit}'," said I, '* for contagion and infection to 



THE OLD BREWERY. 95 

get possession of premises so poorly ventilated," and 
our stay there was short. 

Several of the apartments and their occupants we 
left undisturbed as my guide said they were foreign- 
ers, and could not understand us. 

At the top of the house, or rather in the upper sto- 
ry, we found a man so drunk that his sister held him 
up while trying to get a shilling into his pocket, as 
he said, though I thought that she was trying to get 
it out^ and all the better for him, if she did, whether 
she was his sister or not. He turned to the Old Man 
of the Brewery, and said, "I shall go to the tempe- 
rance meeting to-night and take the pledge, for I 
have not earned a shilling in a dozen years that 
I have not drunk up." 

We felt very^nuch inclined to encourage him to 
stick to his good resolution ; and, to strengthen his 
professed intention, told him that by so doing he 
would soon be able to put the money in his pocket 
himself, and without any body to hold him up. 

As we left the room, we met a man on the top of 
the stairs, and my guide said to him, " Here is a stran- 
ger who has come in to see how folks live in the Old 
Brewery." 

" Well, I am willing to show him my apartments," 
said he. " But stop a moment until I get a light — • 
there, walk in, gentlemen; see ! this is my place." 

And this he said with that evident consciousness 
of being exalted to a rank so much above that of 
many others, that it was quite amusing to the wri- 
ter. But as we entered, we found the occupants to 
be principally dogs, and the furniture, mainly, rags. 



FIVE POINTS. 



" How do you live here ?" said I. 

" By keeping lodgers, sir," said he. 

Lodgers ! said I to myself, I should think so. Here 
some may be disposed to inquire about the cha- 
racter of the beds on which the favored " lodgers" 
were permitted to dream. But it will be remember- 
ed that we have already begged the reader to be sa- 
tisfied with a very limited number of interrogations, 
while we are handling delicate topics. 

I cannot tell exactly how it was, but what could 
you expect in an old brewery ? I suppose the bunks 
numbered about four. The bedsteads were neither 
mahogany nor rosewood. The beds were neither fea- 
thers, moss, nor hair. The bedding or coverings 
were neither silk, cotton, nor linen. If you have ever 
seen farmers fix lodgings for their hogs, you will pro- 
bably need no" further explanation, except that the 
pigs have more straw, and less hugs. 

Having seen enough in the old brewery to satisfy 
my curiosity, I discharged my faithful guide, to 
whom I was greatly indebted for his kindness, and 
took a stroll through what is called " Cow-Bay,''' 
which was a new bay to me, although I had been 
ten years within about one mile of it. It takes one 
more than ten years to find out all the nooks and 
corners and cow-bays in this modern Sodom. 

The inhabitants of this locality are mostly or alto- 
gether the descendants of Ham. But, after all, judg- 
ing from what I saw, I don't think that they are any 
particular disgrace to some of their neighbors, who 
claim for their ancestors Shem and Japheth. 



FIVE POINTS. 97 



" Will you give me a Tract, sir ?" said a colored 
woman as I passed her door. 

" O yes, gladly give you one. Can you read ?*' 

" Yes, I can read, but they havn't given me a book 
since I joined." 

*' Joined what ?" 

" Why, Mr. Pease's Temperance Society. I think 
I ought to have had a book or something of that sort, 
before now. Wonder if they think a nigger can live 
without anything." 

" Well, here is a good one. It is ' Peace to the trou- 
bled.^ You have had trouble more or less, I sup- 
pose." 

" Trouble ! Guess this woman hasn't had nothin' 
else. Trouble ! Didn't I used to be drunk more 
than half the time ? To be honest, I must say, I have 
been a great drinker !" 

" I thought so." 

" O yes, a real old drunkard, and not very old either. 
I joined the society five or six weeks ago, and 
not a drop have I tasted since, and you couldn't get 
this woman to take another dram, any way that you 
can iix it. Come in and see how I live." 

She started, I followed. 

"Take care, you rascal you ; don't you know any 
better than that?" said she, to an old surly dog, call- 
ing him all sorts of hard names for presuming to 
speak so roughly to a stranger. But as lie was tied 
only by a slender cord, and threatened much, and 
from his appearance had fasted more, I preferred 
waiting until she got near enough to exercise her 
authority to a little better advantage. 



98 FIVE POINTS. 



After being safely within, she exclaimed, " Now I 
must get a light so that you can see how I live, and 
this is the last bit of candle that I have got in the 
world." 

" Well, never mind, let it burn and I will pay for 
another," said T, and this was of course just what she 
wanted. " But who is this lying here on the floor 
asleep ?" said I. 

" O that colored woman is sick, sir." 

" And who is that lying there asleep on the bed ?" 

"O that white woman is drunk, sir. I used to be a 
poor miserable drunkard myself, and so I took her in 
out of pity." 

"Well, she is to be pitied, I think, sure enough^ 
whether she deserves it or not." 

"Here you see, sir, are all my things. Pretty poor, 
don't you think so ?" 

*' I have seen people worse off than you, for here 
is a bed and there is a table. Have you any cook- 
stove ?" 

" No, nor much to cook in it. 1 can get along very 
well without a stove." 

" Have you any tea-kettle ?" 

"No, but I can do without that, too, although a lit- 
tle tea never comes amiss." 

" Where's your spider or saucepan ?" 

" Havn't got any ; but here is a nice little dinner* 
pot, sir. See here ! There, sir, did you ever see a 
better pot of bean-soup than that ? Upon my word, 
sir, it's capital, it's refreshing and—" 

" Better than- rum, is it ?" 

" Rum ! That sounds worse than thunder. Rum ! 



FIVE POINTS. 99 



Had it not been for that cursed stuff, I should not be 
confined to a pot of bean-soup for my dinner to-day. 
But still I take courage, sir, for while rum had the 
advantage of me, I hadn't even the bean-soup. So 
you see 1 have been worse ofl^than I am now. And 
not only so, but here, sir, is a bowl (I have no tea- 
cups) of first rate coffee, with all the fixings and trim- 
mings ; take a good drink of it, sir." 

But as I had already agreed to take tea with my 
friend the missionary, and did not like to rob the lib- 
eral-hearted creature of her only luxury, 1 of course 
declined ; and after exhorting her to keep the pledge 
with all fidelity ; and paying her for the privilege of 
seeing the bottom of as damp, and dark, and gloomy 
a basement as any mortal, whether drunk or sober, . 
dead or alive, ought to occup}', and begging her to 
hold the dog, I withdrew, and concluded that my ex- 
plorations in " Cow-Bay" had better be terminated. 

After taking tea v^ith my worthy friend, he re- 
marked, " Before we go to the temperance .meeting, 
I must give you a. temperance anecdote or two," to 
which 1 was very ready to lend on ear. 

" At an unusually early hour, I received a call one 
morning from a man in a wretched condition, and 
asked him what he wanted? 

" ' Mr. Pease, I have come to take the pledge,' said 
he. 

' " What do you want to take the pledge for ?' said I. 

* " Mr. Pease, I am low enough, can't go any lower 
this side of perdition, I want to take the pledge.' 

" I hardly knew what to think of the man, and yet 
there seemed to be an earnestness about him, and a 



100 THE FIVE-POmTS. 

little glimmering of vsmothered intelligence, which 
induced me to give him the pledge, after proving his 
sincerity by keeping him w^aiting long enough to get 
sober. * Now,' said I, ' what can you do V 

* " Do almost any thing. I can sell paper, for one 
thing.' 

" So I went down town to a stationer and told the 
merchant to let him have a ream of paper at the 
lowest wholesale price, and at it he went among the 
lawyers and others, with great energy, and cleared 
two dollars the first day, which encouraged him not 
a little. In the course of a few days he was able to 
get a new suit of clothes throughout, which he greatly 
needed. I soon found the man to be more thoroughly 
versed in ancient and modern history, than pJmost 
any other individual that I have met, and from that 
time to this he has been making his dollar and a 
half, and two dollars a-day, in peddling paper." 

But as the time for meeting arrived, the remain- 
ing anecdotes were reserved for some future occa- 
sion. 1 would here remark that the Temperance 
Hall was once an old grogger}^, and it is situated in 
the end of a row of five houses which were occupied 
by one hundred and fifty abandoned females when 
Mr. Pease began his self-denying work. He now 
has possession of the entire premises which he de- 
notes to his ov/n purposes, and to sheltering the 
houseless, employing the idle, feeding the hungry, 
clothing the naked, instructing the ignorant, and re- 
claiming the wandering. 

Almost the first man that I saw, after entering 
the Hallj was the " Old Man of the Brewery," who 



FIVE POINTS. 101 



appeared to be in excellent spirits, and was evidently 
at home." The room was well filled and the audience 
exhibited a becoming demeanor, and I was quite 
agreeably entertained. Interesting speeches were 
made, songs sung, anecdotes related, and pledges 
taken. 

But the Chairman by v/ay of encouragement pre- 
sented before the meeting an incident which pleased 
me more than all the songs and speeches, and which 
I take the liberty of saying was rather creditable to 
even the rum-sellers of " Five Points," and it would 
not be going very far out of my way to say, that the 
craft generally wherever found, will do well to imi- 
tate the example. 

A certain woman, being a little more thirsty than 
hungry, took a loaf of bread and w^ent around among 
the grog-sellers to exchange it for rum. Not one of 
them would have it, and she finally had to- follow 
their advice and go home and eat it. 

After the close of the meeting, which was between 
nine and ten o'clock, my worthy friend said he would 
get a policeman to go with me through some of the 
" haunts" in the neighborhood. And as the eye is 
never satisfied with seeing, I was very glad to accept 
his kind offer, and especially as I needed not only a 
" guide board," but a cluh. 

So we walked across the street to the corner of a 
little triangular square called " Paradise Park"— a 
misnomer, the reader will very naturally conclude. 
There we stood a moment until a watchman came 
up, and after telling him our business, one or two 



102 FIVE POINTS. 



lusty raps of the club on the side- walk, soon brought 
together a sufficient force. 

After an introduction, and other preliminaries were 
attended too, such as deciding who could best be 
spared, and best serve the writer, and the best route 
to be taken, &c., for nothing but the best would 
answer on such an emergent occasion ; and after 
bidding the indefatigable reformer good night, two 
sturdy and obliging police officers led the way and I 
followed. 

'• But we must have a light, in order to proceed to 
advantage where we shall want to go," said one of 
them ; for I had already told them that, while I was 
about it, I wanted to see the most perfect specimen 
of wretchedness and destitution that New York 
could exhibit. 

So we stepped into a grocery and prepared our- 
selves for such a journey as few iire permitted to 
take, and such as many would not Vvdsh to take, 
though they might with profit ; and with club and 
candle in hand we started on " Indian file," and it 
reminded me of Putnam's going into the wolf's den, 
with his blazing torch. 

Well, we waded on, over, and through winding 
paths, and filthy alleys, and dismal cellars, and musty 
halls, and greasy kitchens, and smoky garrets, and 
rotten stairs, and broken floors, and drunken men, 
and stupid women, until I began to suspect that my 
request was in a fair way to be realized. 

I was peculiarly fortunate in having such guides, 
and for at least three important reasons. The 
protection which they afforded in worse than a 



FIVE POINTS. 103 

lion's den, was no inconsiderable item. Moreover, 
every nook and corner, was not only known, but 
perfectly accessible to them. 

Every door, not fastened, was opened without 
ceremony. One good rap of the watchman's club 
quickly started the bolts of such as the occupants 
had presumed to bar against a police officer. 

The inmates made no resistance — murmured not a 
vv^ord, and probably congratulated themselves for 
being so much better than some desperate outlaw 
whom they fancied that the policemen were in search 
of, and perhaps the officers fancied so too. 

I said that I was fortunate in having such guides, 
but nov/ I am peculiarly unfortunate in not being able 
to tell " what I saw." As it is utterly impossible, 
the reader will excuse the failure. 

To say there was an exhibition of poverty, almost 
or quite without a parallel, would not tell the story. 

To say there was a scene of degradation too 
appalling to be believed, and too shocking to be 
disclosed, would not tell the story. 

And to say, there was crime without punishment — 
disgrace without shame— sin without compunction, 
and death without hope, v/ould still be less than the 
reality demands. 

Bat, I can mention a few things that I did not see. 
In passing through dwelling after dwelling, not a 
single decent looking person did I see. Not a 
single bed to sleep on, that could compare with the 
man's bunk in the Old Brewery. Not a single bed-' 
stead equal to a few rough poles thrown across a 



104 FIVE POINTS. 



ditch in a farmer's meadow. In short they had none 
at all, or chairs to sit upon, or tables to eat on. 

But the " lodgers" had one advantage. The floors 
"were not as hard as ordinary boards, and it cost them 
nothing for brooms. 

Men and women, black, white, and colored, lay 
scattered about, without observing any order, ex- 
cept to select the darkest corners. 

True, some of them had what they called a bed. 
But I hardly know how to describe its qualit}', color, 
or shape. Perhaps the best representation that I can 
give, combining the three elements, is, to take a 
piece of old rag-carpet, worn all to tatters on the 
kitchen floor, where it has absorbed a superabun- 
dance of grease — draw it once or twice through the 
gutter instead of the wash-tub — let it hang in the 
smoke-house a week or two, to dry, roll it up, and 
put it on the floor for a pillow, and it would posi- 
tively be a better bed than many had. 

After presenting my thanks to the kind watchmen 
and their tender-hearted clubs which protected the 
writer and spared others, let me say to the reader, as 
we leave the "Five Points," Never, after this, com- 
plain. And if you have a clean bundle of straw, 
one coverlid, and a loaf of bread, let your gratitude 
abound ; and if you have not even one of these com- 
forts, and yet have a good character, and good health, 
thank the Lo:d and go to work, and you will soon 
have more reason to exult than to complain. Nine- 
'tenths, nay more, of all the poverty and wretched- 
ness hinted at above, it cannot be described, can be 
traced directly to crime and indolence. 



ORGANIZATION FOR THE POOR. 

Before leaving the subject of poverty and suffer- 
ing, I will speak of a society whose object is to 
relieve the destitute in such a manner as to avoid 
imposition — give the greatest amount of present aid, 
and encourage the recipient to help himself I allude 
to " The New-York Association for Improving the 
Condition of the Poor.^" 

Although its operations are now too well, paid too 
favorably known in the city, to need a word of ex- 
planation or commendation from so humble a source, 
or at least ought to be, yet some of my country 
readers may possibly be glad to know how we pro- 
vide for the unfortunate and needy; and for such 
readers I write, instead of those who live in town, 
and should knov/ more about New- York already 
than I can tell them, if the former class does not. It 
will be understood that there are numerous other 
organizations for the relief of the suffering in the 
city, which I cannot notice in detail. 

This is the first organization of the kind which is 
known, and it has been in operation seven years. 
Its plan for accomplishi^ig all that it proposes to do, 
so commends itself to every sensible mind, and its 
fruits thus far have been so good, that ten of our 
most importa,nt cities have already adopted it. It is 
also to be hoped that others, both in the old world 
and the new, will follow this noble example. 

The first, and one of the most important rules to 



106 OilGAXIZATION FOR THE I'OOR. 



be adopted after obtainiRg funds (which is effected 
by voluntary contributions) is, never to give a cent 
without investigation — a rule that should ever be ob- 
served with all street-heggars. 

Secondly, extend aid to none h\\\. proper subjects. 

Third]}^, give no money. 
.And fourthly, to encourage all to help themselves. 

" Ye have the poor alwaj^s with you," said our 
Saviour, and it is as true now as then. Moreover, 
it is a,s important also that they should be cared for. 
But to give alms indiscriminatel}", is as bad as to 
give none at all. \\\ some respects it is v/orse. It 
fosters intemperance — it promotes lying and decep- 
tion — it encourages idleness and prodigality, and 
multiplies vagrants and be.i?gais, wFiich are already 
quite too numerous. 

Many give, and frequently give much, from the 
spur of the moment, without any investigation, 
either, because they have no time or means to ascer- 
tain whether the person who solicits their charity is 
worthy or not, or because they hardly care. 

It is often no easy task to separate the genuine 
from the counterfeit, and this society happilj- provides 
for this emergency. 

In the first place, the city is divided by tlie society 
into 317 sections, and a visitor is appointed to each. 
These visitors become more or less familiar with the 
condition of those who deserve aid in their respec- 
tive districts, and often, whether they apply for it or 
not. Consequently, they well know Vvhat lue is 
made of the materials which are furnished for their 



ORGANIZATION FOR THE POOR. 107 

comfort. I know not what better arrangement could 
be devised. 

Every private member is furnished with a little 
pocket Directory, which contains the name of every 
visitor^ and the name of every street in the city, 
alphabetically arranged, with the sectional number 
attached, both to each street, and also to the visitor's 
name. 

Now, suppose a man calls at my door, and says 
that he has neither food nor money, and asks assis- 
tance. Without stopping to hear his story, which 
may be true or false, and might take long enough to 
half earn his breakfast — I say at once, Vv^here do you 
live ? If he says, at 25 Canal-street, I take my Direc- 
toiy and turn to that street, and see at a glance that 
it is included in section 75. That is, that part of 
Canal-street up to No. 48, when it passes into another 
section. 

Again, I turn to the list of sections, and find that 
Moses B. Taylor is the visitor of section 75. At the 
same moment I perceive that his residence is at No. 
96 Elm-street, and direct the applicant to Mr. 
Taylor, and if the begger is an honest man, he will 
go to the visitor and receive prom.pt attention. If he 
is not, he will go his way to impose upon those who 
have less method. I regret that there are not more 
" methodists" in the world, let their religion be what 
it may. 

Thus, in the simple way v/hich I have described, 1 
can in one minute tell any man who his visitor is, no 
matter where he lives, if the man can tell me where 



108 ORGANIZATION FOR THE POOR. 

!_ 

he lives himself. Bat some of the rogues have become 
wise enough not to know that. 

But this is not all. The visitor not only becorues 
acquainted with the condition of those v^^ho ask for 
help, but he finds many who had rather suffer than 
aj^ply for relief — that very class whom every one 
more delights to aid, than to assist those who call for 
alms from house to house without a blush. 

Not only so ; but if any who are straitened and 
sorely tried, happen to escape his notice, they can 
confidently call upon him and be relieved, with- 
out any fear of being called a beggar. It is often a 
great trial to accept of offered aid, and not a few 
have actually chosen to perish rather than to make 
known their true condition. 

Neither is this all. There is a great saving of 
time to those who ought to have every moment 
employed to the best advantage. For example, if a 
man is worthy of assistance, he may receive more 
aid, by simply calling upon the visitor, for a moment, 
than by begging in the streets all day. 

Moreover, this society makes it a rule never to give 
money, with very few exceptions, lest it should be 
misapplied. Arrangements are made with grocers 
and others, in each district, for the supply of needful 
articles, at the lowest price. 

" The visitor is required to keep a correct account 
of the amount of his orders, and of the persons to 
whom said orders are given, and report the same to 
his Advisory Committee every month." 

'* The Treasurer of each Advisory Committee is 
required to compare the orders given by the visitors, 



ORGANIZATION FOR THE POOR. 109 

with the grocers' bills, and make a monthly report 
thereof to the general Agent ; and once in three 
months the accounts of said Treasurer must be com- 
pared with his vouchers, by two members of the 
Advisory Committee, be certified by them, and re- 
ported to the Board of Managers." 

Moreover, the visitor gives small orders at a time 
and guards against an impression that there will of 
course be plenty more forthcoming in due time. 
He rather encourages them to expect but a, little. In 
fact among lo many needy ones, as a general rule, 
they cannot each have much. Hence, there is no 
alternative but to make the most of what they get, 
and in the mean time help themselves to the utmost 
extent. 

Wherever the visitor goes, he urges the importance 
of temperance, industry, economy, honesty, and 
frugality. He also strives to help those to employ- 
ment who are able and willing to work. 

This Association has now 4051 members, and 
during the past year extended aid to 5725 families, 
containing 25,762 persons, and received 825,807 14, 
and disbursed ^23,821 99. 

For the above interesting statistics, I am indebted 
to the very efficient Corresponding Secretary, Robert 
M. Hartley, Esq. 

It ever has been, and ever will be true, that in all 
large cities and tov/ns, special effort and provision 
for the unfortunate and suffering are more demanded 
than in rural districts. There is far less abject 
poverty — less wear and tear of conscience and heart 
strings — less distress, discouragement, and despair 



110 ORGANIZATION FOR THE POOR. 

in the country than in crowded towns. But this is 
so evident to a.11 who are familiar v/ithbcth city and 
country life, that these remarks may seem to some 
almost or quite unnecessary. 

Moreover, the excess of wretchedness from poverty 
and crime, is greater in our seaboard than in our 
inland towns. This is emphatically true of New- 
York. The reason is obvious. It will be re- 
membered that I have already said that two hundred 
and twelve thousand foreigners landed at this Pert 
during the past year, many of whom were trained 
paupers in the old world. 



ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 

It may be proper for us now to notice another 
source of gratuitous aid, for which the needy mortals 
of Gotham have reason to be thankful ; and for the 
ability to help earth's needy ones over their rough 
and thorny wa}', others have reason to be more 
thankful still, for it is more blessed to give than to 
receive. There is no otlier organization in the city 
which extends a helping hand to the suffering, on so 
large a scale as the Aims-House Department, in all 
its branches. 

The departm.ent is under the managemiCnt of ten 
" Governors^^ tvv^o of which are chosen bienniall3\ ' 

For the last Annual Report, the gentlemanly Clerk, 
G. B. Gilbert, Esq., will please accept our thanks. 

The Report contains many interesting statistics, 
which the reader vvill hardly expect us to notice, 
when he is informed that it makes an octavo volume 
of over tVv^o hundred pa.ges. 

There are several Inslitutions under the charge of 
this department — namely, the A^lms- House, City 
Prisons, Bellevue, and other Hospitals, Penitentiary, 
Lunatic Asylum, Nursery Establishment, Potters 
Field, &c. This Department also partially sustains 
the " Colored Home," and " Colored Orphan Asy- 
lum." 

In glancing over the brief details of the several 
branches of this Department, the reader will proba- 



112 ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 

b]y pause, take a long breath, and say, is it jjossible ! 
when his eye rests upon the striking contrast 
between native and foreign paupers, in relation to 
numbers. 

ALMS-HOUSE PROPER. 

The number admitted during the year was 2,355, 
of whom 1,810 were foreigners. 

The total number of persons who received aid at 
this branch of the Department, was 3,468. Number 
of deaths 169. There remained in the Aims-House 
at the close of the year 1,304. This embraces but a 
small part of the field occupied by this department. 
From the Report of the Warden of the Out-door Poor, 
it appears that 11,986 persons have been relieved 
during the year with money, and 26,068 persons have 
been relieved with fuel. The average amount of 
money with which each family was supplied, was 
fifty cents per week, and the average quantity of 
fuel, was one quarter of a ton of coal, or one half 
load of wood per every two weeks. 

CITY PRISONS. 

I have already briefiy noticed one of the city 
prisons — namely, the " Tombs," which is the prin- 
cipal one in town. I shall therefore speak of it on 
the present occasion only in connection with the 
general department now under consideration. 

The total number of commitments to the city 
prisons during the year was 21,299— an average of 
a little'more than one in every twenty -five minutes 
day and night. This is an increase of 3,257 over the 



ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 113 

past yeai\ Such an appalling increase of crime in 
so short a period, calls loudly upon the city authori- 
ties, nay, every good citizen, to seriously inquire into 
the cause of so fearful a picture. 
Of the above number, 



Were discharged, - 


- 


- 17,421 


Sent to BlackwelFs Island, 


- 3,668 


" " States Prison, 


- 


169 


Died, - 


. 


22 


Eloped, 


- 


3 


Could not read. 


- 


- 9,449 


" read only, - 


- 


- 1,646 


" " and write, 


- 


- 7,284 


Well educated. 


- 


- 2,731 


Classically " 


- 


25 


Unknown, 


- 


164 


Temperate, - 


- 


- 2,446 


Intemperate, - 


m 


- 18,853 


Natives, 


- 


- 5,777 


Foreigners, 


- 


- 15,522 



Alas ! what a picture ! Here are two items which 
every lover of our country ought seriously to ponder. 
Of this great army of prisoners about three-fourths 
were foreigners, and nearly nine-tenths were intem- 
perate. But this is not all. Another consideration 
worthy of notice, and which ought to cause parents 
to shudder, is the fact that there were committed of 
this number, one hundred and fifteen boys under ten 
years of age ! Not very flattering for New York. 
This, however, is but the dust of the balance. A 



114 ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 

detailed account of all the cases of juvenile depravity 
in this single town for twelve months, w^ould make a 
volume large enough to break a man's back to carry, 
and horrible enough to break a mother's heart to 
read. 

BELLEVUE HOSPITAL. 

There were admitted during the year 3,728 per- 
sons, of whom 3,081 were foreigners. The total 
number under treatment at this establishment during 
the past year was 4,240. Of these 3,224 have been 
discharged, 445 have died (of which deaths 146 were 
caused by consumption) and 571 remained in the 
Hospital at the close of the year. The inmates of 
this Hospital have the benefit of some of the best 
surgical and medical talent in the city, though the 
bills of mortality may appear large to the reader. 
But it should be remembered that a very large pro- 
portion of the fatal cases were from diseases which 
were considered incurable when the deceased entered 
the hospital. This will be at once apparent, when 
we remember that about one-third of the whole num- 
ber died from a single disease, namely, consumption. 

Moreover, it is peculiarly gratifying to notice the 
favorable change in the bills of mortality in this in- 
stitution for the last few years. For 20 years prior 
to 1847, the average mortality was 20 per cent. 
In the year 1847 . . 17 " *' 
"1848 . . 16 « *' 
" '* 1849 . . 13 " « 
" "1850 . . 10 « « 



ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 115 

PEXITENTIARY. 

The number of prisoners received into tliis prison, 
which is situated on Blackweli's Island, during the 
past 3'ear, was 3,575(159 of whom were females), 
which, together with 809 prisoners remaining in the 
prison at the beginning of the year, make 4,384. Of 
these 3,581 were discharged during the year, and 
803 remained. 

The prisoners have been employed in the various 
departments of labor, within and without, namely, 
s^ome in the washing and mending departments ; some 
in the blacksmith's, shoemaker's, and carpenter's de- 
partments ; some in the stone quarries, and some in 
one way and some in another. During the past 
year a stone wall running across the Island 600 feet 
in length, 12 feet high, 4 feet thick at the bottom, 
and 2 feet thick at the top,, has been built by those 
who had rather work under keepers on Blackweli's 
Island than under boss masons on Manhattan Island. 
At least it would seem so, for it is nothing strange 
for some of these workmen to serve an apprentice- 
ship twice a year at the former place, as six months 
is the longest term. 

Well, let them work, and the oftener they go, and 
the longer they stay, the better. At least some of 
them, for the}^ will work nowhere else, except in 
digging holes through houses, in breaking bolts and 
bars, and in destroying and lugging off the earnings 
of honest men. But a word from the Warden's Re- 
port will perhaps lead the reader to suspect that 
many of the prisoners do not wish for so much of that 



116 ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 

sickl}'- sympathy for them, as often abounds, for they 
do not altogether regret a visit now and then to 
Blackwell's Island. 

" It may be true that convict labor has been of im- 
portance in various buildings and improvements on 
the Island. The undersigned has no hesitation in 
iSaying that, in a majority of cases, the term of im- 
prisonment, under present circumstances, is no pun- 
ishment, and productive of no beneficial results to the 
prisoner or the public. It is rather a pleasant and 
comfortable residence." 

The grounds belonging to the Penitentiary pro- 
duced the past year 800 bushels of potatoes, GOO 
bushels of turnips, 4000 heads of cabbage, besides 
other vegetables. 

vSilence, and the utmost decorum are strictly en- 
forced. A library of 450 volumes has been present- 
ed the past year to the institution by jMr. E. Z. C. 
Judson, which the prisoners are permitted to read 
every Sabbath, and every stormy day. 

PENITENTIARY HOSPITAL. 

There have been treated at this institution during 
the past year, 2,201 cases. 1,923 have been discharg- 
ed. The number of deaths amount to 80, and there 
remained in the hospital at the close of the year, 
198. 

The physician of this hospital reports an interest- 
ing fact in relation to delirium tremens. That chlo- 
roform was freely used with the most satisfactory 
results, and that of 352 cases of this terrible malady, 
only three proved fatal. 



ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 117 

SMALL-POX HOSPITAL. 

There have been treated at this branch of the 
Aims-House Department, daring tha past year, 221 
cases of Small-pox, of which 41 proved fatal. The 
average number during the year was 10. Two had 
the disease the second time, and one of them at the 
same hospital two years before. Of the above, 40 
were natives, and 168 were foreigners. 

LUNATIC ASYLUM. 

This Institution is also situated on Blackwell's 
Island, and the number of semi-convicts which had 
the benefit of a residence in such quarters without 
their consent, during the past year, was 792. Dis- 
charged during the year 251. Died 77. An asyluna 
for the insane, if properly conducted, is one of the 
greatest blessings that mortals can bestow upon this 
unfortunate class. But to manage such an army of 
madmen to their advantage, is a task and a tax upon 
mind and body, skill and patience, of no trifling 
magnitude, and it is gratifying to the.philanthropistto 
witness the noble efforts which are made at this and 
other similar institutions in our midst, for the benefit 
of those whose affliction, if not removed, is worse 
than death. 

From the Gardener's report, it appears that the 
inmates of this institution, for their own amusement, 
and to their own advantage, performed, during the 
past year, 2,779 days' work, and raised 20,000 cab- 
bages, 1,900 heads of celery, 700 heads of lettuce, 
400 bushels of potatoes, 300 bushels of tomatoes, 60 



118 ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 

bushels of spinach, 50 bushels of carrots, 40 bushels 
of beets, 8 of grapes, &lc. &c. 

NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT. 

This is the most interesting branch of the Aims- 
House Department. There is probably nothing to 
equal it in the world. The nursery buildings occupy 
a beautiful, healthful, and retired spot, called Ran- 
dall's Island, which is situated in the East River, 
about three miles above Blackwell's Island, and eight 
miles from the City Hall. 

This institution was designed mainly for children ; 
and the stranger who would S3'mpathize with little 
ones, and see how well these tender and forsaken 
specimens of humanity are cared for, by the consti- 
tuted guardians of our city, will do well to visit this 
lovely spot and affecting spectacle. 

There were at the commencement of the last year, 
at the nursery, 1,396 paupers, most of whom were 
children. There were received during the year 
1,580, of whom 1,136 were children. Of the chil- 
dren in the institution, 212 were bound out, 252 were 
put out on trial, 23 ran away, 77 were restored to 
friends, 20 were ado,pted, and 172 died. 

It will amply pay any one to visit this establish- 
ment where some of the pleasant sights of New 
York abound ; and as the stranger lands upon the 
island, and starts for the nursery buildings, he will 
say, surely, this does not look much like poverty. 

This beautiful island, which contains one hundred 
and thirty acres of land, was purchased three years 
since, by the City Fathers, exclusively for the nursery 



I 



ALMS-HOU>"E DEPARTMENT. 110 



establishment, and for which they paid 4^G0,000, and • 
cheap at that, as it would bring twice that sum, and 
probably more, if the same land were now in mar- 
ket. The establishment consists of thirteen buildings, 
namely, the Main Building, Dwelling-house, Quaran- 
tine, Boys' Nursery, Girls' Nursery, Infants' Nursery, 
Nursery Kitchen, North and South Hospital, Hospital 
Kitchen, a Boys' and Girls' Play-house, and a house 
for idiots. 

The main building is occupied during the week as 
a school-house, and on the Sabbath as a house of 
worship. It is a substantial edifice, and is built of 
stone. The other buildings are brick, and usually 
three stories high. On first going to the Island, the 
children spend two or three weeks at the quarantine^ 
building, previous to being put with the other chil- 
dren, to prevent communicating disease. 

It is to be feared that very few children will leave 
this nursery, without going away from home, 

COLORED ORPHAN ASYLUM. 

Since the opening of this As3dum for Colored Or- 
phans, 509 children, during the fourteen years of its 
operations, have been admitted. The number in the 
institution during the past year, was 209, of whom 
7 died. In this asylum there is a flourishing school, 
and also a Sabbath-school. "The Governors of the 
Aims-House Department pay fifty cents per week 
toward each child's support in this asylum, to the ex- 
tent of two-thirds the number in the institution, pro- 
vided the number supported shall not exceed one 
hundred." 



120 ALMS-HOUSE DEPARTMENT. 

This asylum commends itself to the sympa,thy and 
co-operation of the wise, rich and good. Let all re- 
member the orphan, no matter what his color may 
be, or were he is found, whether in town or out. 

COLORED HOME. 

This Institution, which cares for the aged and in- 
firm descendants of Ham, also receives aid from the 
Aims-House Department to the amount of sixty cents 
per week. Ihere were admitted during the year 
past 508 persons, of whom 398 were discharged, and 
96 died. The managers of this institution are en- 
couraging manual labor. 

No one can begin to realize the amount of money, 
time and labor, which are annual!}^ expended in this 
city for the comfort and improvement of the afflicted 
and unfortunate, without a little pains-taking. Much 
more of interest might be said, in relation to the op- 
eration of this humane establishment, which we must 
omit 

The total expenses of the Aims-House Depart- 
ment for the past year amounted to the sum of 
$380,534 31, or $1,042 56 per day. The Governors 
estimate the amount of expenditures for the present 
year at $400,000, and what it will be a century 
hence, nobody pretends to venture a ^^ guess''' 



CITY HOSPITAL. 

This Institution was chartered during the reign of 
George the Third, in the year 1771. The charter 
has since been approved, and several times amended 
by the Legislature of this State. The charter also 
embraces the Insane Asylum which is located at 
Bloomingdale. 

The " New York City HospitaV^ is under the con- 
trol of twentj^-six governors, including the Presi- 
dent, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. It 
has four attending physicians, two consulting phy- 
sicians, and one house physician ; six attending 
surgeons, two consulting surgeons, and two house 
surgeons ; a curator, superintendent, assistant-super- 
intendent, apothecary, chaplain, clerk, and a libra- 
rian, besides nurses, helps, qlg. 

The total number of patients who were under 

treatment during the year 1850, was 3,296 

Average number, . . . 249 

Number cured, . . . 2,394 

Relieved, .... 108 

Died, 357 

Of the deaths, casualties numbered, 122 
Deducting casualties, or cases which terminated fa- 
tally soon after being brought to the hospital, the 
deaths amounted to about 6j per cent. The average 
time of treatment was 4 weeks, \ day and 17 hours. 



122 ciTr noivPiTAL. 



The number of insane po.tients treated at the Asy- 
Jum was 200 

There have been discharged cured, 50 

" " improved, 3 5 

" " unimproved, 7 

«' died, ]8 

Although the New York City hospital is a private 
institution, and was designed, for pay patients, that 
is, for such as can pay a very moderate amount, yet 
of the 3,296 patients treated the past year, 1,507 
were paupers. 

The location of this hospital is central, healthful, 
and accessible. Its entrance is from Broadway, op- 
posite the termination of Pearl-street. The buildings 
stand several rods back from the street, and are ren- 
dered invitingly beautiful by their appendages with- 
out, and invitingly comfortable by their perfections 
within. The latter good qualities I can most hear- 
tily accord to them, as respects medical and surgical 
talent, nature and quality of remedies, character and 
conduct of nurses, arrangement and condition of 
wards, and comfort and prosperity of patients. 

The physicians and surgeons have no superiors, 
although they discharge their arduous, and often try- 
ing, and frequently perilous duties without any pay. 
Yes, without the slightest remuneration, for this is 
no shaving mill, although they sometimes use keen 
instruments when they can't help it. 

But, as great improvements have recently been 
made in the buildings, so that it is truly a viodel 
hospital, perhaps the reader will tolerate, if not a 
little hospital practice, a very brief explanation. 

Two of the most important i m prove pt^^-!'- ''-'•^' ' 



CITY HOSPITAL. 123 



have been introduced, consist in the manner of warm- 
ing and ventilating the buildings. 

These buildings are heated by steam or hot air, in 
the following manner. From two large boilers, situ- 
ated in a small building provided for the purpose, 
which stands about a hundred feet from the main 
building, an amount of steam issues, sufficient to 
warm the apartments in the main buildings, while 
the boilers also furnish a plentiful supply of hot wa- 
ter for washing, bathing, &c. 

The steam is conducted from the boilers through 
cast iron pipes under ground, to several air chambers 
in the basement of the main building, where it cir- 
culates round and round in a series of small pipes 
until it gives off all its caloric. 

The "air-chambers" which are thus heated by 
steam are supplied with pure air from without, by 
means of two perpendicular shafts, or funnels, ten or 
fifteen feet high, one on the north and the other on 
the south, about thirty feet from the building, and 
underground air-ducts, which communicate with 
the shafts and the reservoirs or air-chambers. 

After being heated as before described, the air is 
conveyed through proper conductors to the several 
wards, but not from one ward to another, each hav- 
ing a supply from the pure fountain. I would like 
to be able to say as much for private mansions, and 
glittering palaces in our town. 

All the foul air in the wards is drawn off by means 
of chimnies and other ventilating openings provided 
for the purpose in each apartment. 

All this is very well, but it is still imperfect and 



124 CITY HOSPITAL. 



ever will be, until measures are taken to introduce 
artificial moisture into these breathing tanks. And 
how so many wise heads committed so great a 
blunder as to neglect it, is a mystery. 

Whenever the atmosphere is below freezing point, 
it is generally too dry for health, where ever artificial 
heat is required. Now to suppose that the air is in 
the least degree modified, as to its humidit}?-, in an 
apartment which is warmed simply by the circula- 
tion of steam in cast iron pipes, without the escape 
into the room of a particle of vapor, is altogether as 
absurd as to suppose tha-t no man can be thirst}^ with 
a bottle of water in his pocket. 

The drying power of the air is always increased, 
as we increase its temperature, and no matter how 
we mcrease it ; and it is modified only by the amount 
of moisture which it contains before entering a build- 
ing, its temperature within, its circulation, and the 
presence or absence of artificial vapor. 

But I did not intend to discuss the science of 
hygrometry, though it is a subject of much impor- 
tance to all. The reader will find the writer's views 
on the importance of artificial moisture in all cold 
climates during the winter, and the proper standard 
of humidity, under the head of Ventilation, in a work 
recently published, entitled " Hints and Helps to 
Health and Happiness.^^ 

But another decided improvement which I wish to 
notice, is, the manner in which the patients take their 
meals. Instead of eating in the wards, as was, and 
is generally customary in other hospitals, where 
perhaps lie thirty or forty invalids afflicted with 



CITY HOSPITAL. 125 



various forms of disease, there are now eating-rooms 
or halls adjoining, where all who can leave their 
beds, can retire and enjoy their daily food in a 
rational and desirable manner. 

T may also remark, that their rooms are thoroughly 
lighted, an item of no trifling importance, and too 
often insufficiently appreciated. The Italians have 
a saying, that " where the sun does not come, the 
doctor nmst." But plenty of windows increase the 
facilities for ventilation also. 

As to cleanliness, I can hard!}' speak of an im- 
provement, for there has been little room for it, 
for many years. Indeed everything is clean almost 
to a fault. 

Before leaving the hospital, I beg leave to direct 
the reader's attention to an incident which occurred 
at this home for the sick and maimed, some eight 
years since. 

An amputation of the leg was expected, and 
students, doctors, and others assembled to witness it. 
When the hour arrived I took my seat in the *' Sur- 
gical Amphitheatre," which has its seats so elevated 
one above another, that spectators can look right 
down upon the subject as he lies upon the table. 

Preparations having been made, the patient, who 
was a young man about twenty, a native of Ireland, 
entered the room, walking erect (though having a 
diseased leg supposed to be incurable without ampu- 
tation), accompanied by his skilful surgeon, and his 
assistants. 

As he entered, and cast his eye upon the table 
which was well furnished with the glittering steel. 



126 CITY HOSPITAL. 



and then upon a host of gazing spectators in breath- 
less silence, more anxious to see him mount the table 
than to be there themselves, his courage failed, and 
with a pale face and a passive tongue he quietly 
backed out. 

Some said the knives frightened him ; others con- 
cluded that the gazing spectators were worse than 
the knives. Some said, " he will not show himself 
here again." Others expected every moment to see 
him open the door. Hence, the probabilities for, and 
against a practical lecture on surgery at his expense 
were more or less discussed. It will be remembered 
that this was before the days of " Chloroform.'''' 

After having his courage screwed up a little hearer 
to the sticking point, with many assurances, some 
flattery, and a little rum (a substitute for courage and 
chloroform), he again entered the place where many 
bid adieu to some portion, or the whole of the clayey 
tenement — doffed his pants, and after taking another 
look at knives, saws, and men, mounted the table, 
though very reluctantly, and stretched himself out 
upon the slab, which, if permitted to speak, could tell 
many a sad tale. 

The blood now retired from the skin, as though afraid 
of being disturbed, leaving the face as pale as death, 
the muscles trembled, and some of the students too — 
the eyes glared, the lips quivered, and I could 
almost hear the knives, saws, and needles say, " Poor 
fellow ! prepare for a reception of cold friends." It is 
often our duty to sever ties of much tenderness and 
long standing. But as we have a great regard for 
flesh and blood, we shall do our best, and do it 



CITY HOSPITAL. 127 



quickly. Therefore be strong, for we always wound 
before we heal. 

" I doubt it," said he in his heart, as he shouted, 
" Stop o' that ! stop o' that !" as an assistant made pre- 
paration for holding him down. " Stop o' that ; I 
cannot part with me lemb !" and up he jumped, and 
out he ran, with dangling pants in his hand, slap- 
ping his leg, and muttering, " I'll never part with 
me lemb as long a,s God lets me lev," and neither 
has the writer nor the surgeon seen him since. 

The inexperienced reader will ve ry naturally con- 
clude that the man was right and the doctor wrong 
in his decision. The fact that he could walk about 
so well, would be very apt to deceive any but com- 
petent judges. But it is eas}^ to be mistaken. 

A stranger may be floating in a canoe on the Niaga- 
ra River, above the falls, where the water is smooth, 
and flatter hiniselfthat there is no immediate danger. 
He may also have his boat loaded down with some 
valuable treasure, which if retained will effec- 
tually prevent his reaching the shore, and saving 
his life. 

A citizen perfectly familiar with the deceptive 
influence of the current, and peril of the man, may 
warn him of his danger, from the shore, and urge him 
to escape for his life, by casting overboard his trea- 
sure and instantly pulling hard for the bank. 

He may reply, " O no, I cannot part with it j^et. It 
is too valuable to go to the bottom of the river. 
And besides, see how nicely I glide along. It can't 
be that the danger you speak of is a reality." 

Yes, this is often very much the condition of him 



128 CITY HOSPITAL. 



who sees not his danger as the surgeon sees it. Per- 
haps he is still able to walk about, and hence unwil- 
ling to part with so useful a member as a leg, and 
so clings to his treasure although it soon carries him 
over the fatal cataract. 

The surgeon says, although you see no immediate 
danger, yet your leg is so diseased that nothing can 
do it any permanent good but the knife. If you have 
the affected part removed without too much delay, 
you may hope to live on to a good old age. But if you 
wait until your health and strength are broken down, 
you may expect to die in the operation, or soon after. 
Without the operation, you will certainly find a pre- 
mature grave. 

As the majority of those who are unacquainted with 
the merits of hospitals generally entertain an erro- 
neous opinion in relation to their advantages, I would 
remark that they are at ] east four-fold. 

In the first place, the inmates have the benefit of 
medical and surgical talent of the first order. 

In the second place, these institutions keep their 
own medicine, v/hich they test and know to be ge- 
nuine. This is an item of no little importance in 
this day of shameful ad alter otion. 

In the third place, the patient has the services of 
an experienced nurse, and if there is any truth in the 
old adage, " as much depends upon the nurse as the 
doctor, whether the patient lives or dies," surety this 
advantage should not be lightly esteemed. 

And, in the fourth place, the diet and other hygie- 
nic agents are selected by men of wisdom and expe- 
rience. Hence, it is easy to see that the hospital is 



DISPENSARIES. 129 



not SO much to be dreaded, as many are apt to sup- 
pose. 

PUBLIC DISPENSARIES. 

We have other sources of relief to the sick, and 
distribution to the poor, which I may notice, namely, 
the dispensaries, of which there are three. At these 
institutions, not the least charge is made for medi- 
cine or treatment. They are sustained by corpora- 
tion and state grants, private subscriptions, dona- 
tions, legacies, &c. For statistics, I am indebted to 
their Annual Reports. 

The " New York Dispensary^' with its very appro- 
priate motto," I WAS SICK AND YE VISITED ME," WaS 

founded in ]790, and is under the supervision of 
thirteen trustees. It has nine attending physicians 
at the Dispensary, together with an apothecary and 
an assistant, and six district physicians who attend 
on those who are too feeble to leave their houses. 

The ^'Northern Dispensary^^ and the " Eastern 
Dispensary'^ which were founded, the former in 
1827 and the latter in 1834, are conducted in a simi- 
lar manner to the above. 

To these several dispensaries, thousands and tens 
of thousands resort, and receive the best of remedies?, 
and the best of treatment without money and with- 
out price, and many of them find fault at that. But 
they receive the benefit of liberal hearts and hands 
and perhaps that's enough. They can save their 
thanks for those who are licensed to make them sick, 
for we have already seen that there is no lack of 
such. Q 



IS'J EYK AND EAR INFIRMARY. 

Some idea, though a faint one, may be formed of 
the important service which these institutions ren- 
der to that class which the Old world has poured in 
upon us (for the patients are mostly foreigners). to 
De cured of their maladies, and fed with our bread, 
Dy looking at the result of one year's toil and benev- 
olence. Number of patients treated at the 

New York Dispensary, . , . 40,835 

Northern .".... 20,680 
Eastern . " . . . . 21,22G 



Total 82,741 

EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY. 

This excellent institution was founded expressly 
for ihepoor in 1820, for the treatment of diseases of 
the eye and ear. It is sustained very much as are 
the dispensaries above noticed. There is no other 
institution of the kind in the United States where as 
large a number of patients are admitted, and none 
in the world where they are better treated. 

Since this institution was opened, 36,657 patients 
have been treated, and most of them very success- 
fully. The cases during the past year, number 2,424. 
For these statistics, the author is indebted to the 
surgeons of the infirmary. 

In addition to the very large number of patients 
already referred to, who have received gratuitous 
medical aid at the hospitals, dispensaries, infirmaries, 
&c., probably at least ten or fifteen thousand have 
been treated in private practice without any remu- 
neration. 



COiAIMON SCHOOLS. 

Although the pupils in our Ward and District 
Schools are not paupers, yet they receive as free as 
water, their education at the expense of others, as 
much as do the hungry at the alms-house their bread, 
or the sick at the dispensaries, their physic. Some- 
body has to foot the bill, and not a small bill either. 

Our noble school system is worthy of all commen- 
dation. It is an honor to our State, our countr}^, and 
our world. We may well be proud of it, and rejoice 
in it, and expect much from it. The writer well re- 
members the time, when in a back country town, he 
thought it a special privilege to see the inside of an 
old rickety, smok}^ leaky school-house eight and forty 
times in twelve months! This assertion probably 
the reader will not doubt. But this has nothing to 
do with the city, or city schools, although the subject 
brings to mind the days of yore. 

How great and glorious are the privileges of the 
poor children in our city, as far as the means of ac- 
quiring an educatioi^ are concerned. What they can 
ask more I know not. From the first of September 
to the last of July, they are furnished with good 
teachers, books, paper, pens, ink, slates, pencils, and 
comfortable houses, and all for nothing. And during 
the past 3'ear one hundred thousand children in this 
city have been instructed in our common schools, 
which cost the public $270,768 86. 



132 COMMON SCHOOL?. 

But this is not all. During the same period, and 
in the same way, we have taught two thousand, three 
hundred colored children. Match that, sister cities, 
north or south ! 

And to stimulate and aid those of bright and pro- 
mising talents, we have a splendid " Free Aca,demy," 
where all the higher branches are taught with suc- 
cess, to the credit of pupils, teachers, and our institu- 
tions. 

Yes, our common school system is destined to work 
out glorious results at no distant day. It cannot be 
otherwise ; so let us have more school-houses, less 
forts — more books, less barracks — more presses, less 
powder — more Bibles, less bullets. 

1 might mention many other systems, institutions, 
associations, &:c., which make long and loud calls 
for cash, cash ! But enough has been said to show 
that the city is neither all beggars nor misers. To 
recapitulate briefly, we find the sum total of the fore- 
going to be as follows : — 

Expenses of the Aims-House Departm't, $380,534 31 
" " Common Schools, 270,768 80 

" " Association for the Poor, 23,821 99 

" unpaid by patients in City Hospital, 20,000 00 
*« *' Dispensaries, . . 14,483 57 

'' " Eye Infirm ar}', . . 1,162 16 



Total, . . . 710,770 89 

Total number of beneficiaries in the above depart- 
ments, 284,776. 
From the examination of a few institutions it is 



COMMON SCFIOOLS. 133 

very evident that one half of the city has to help 
support the other half. 

Although it annually costs the city such an enor- 
mous sum to sustain those who cannot and will not 
support themselves, j^et this is hardly a drop in the 
bucket, to the amount which is far worse than wast- 
ed every year. I will call the reader's attention to 
only one source of extravagance and crime which 
will suffice, namely, the consumption of intoxicating 
drinks, and its consequences. 

From an interesting work ("Intemperance in Cities 
and large Towns, by Robert M. Hartley") just pub- 
lished, we find the following startling statement — 
that the annual aggregate expenditure for intoxicat- 
ing liquors consumed in this city amounts to the sum 
oi thirteen millions and thirty thousand dollars, 

" This is nearl}^ equal to half the average annual 
disbursement for the support of the United States 
Government, including its legion ofoffice- holders, the 
Army and Navy, with other innumerable expendi- 
tures ; four times the cost of administering the State 
government, with the interest on the public debt and 
repairs of the public works ; twelve times the receipts 
of the Bible, Tract, Missionary and other public be- 
nevolent societies in the United States ; twenty times 
the sum expended in this city for religious worship 
and educational purposes ; in short, for every dollar 
contributed for the support of the Gospel in this city, 
one hundred dollars are expended in strong drink !" 

The consequences of this degrading, disastrous 
practice have already been hinted at. But a volume 
wholly devoted to the subject would fail to do it jus- 



134 COMMON S-CHOOLS, 



tice, and we luanl ihe-otu/t-; bi^ content to throw out 
merely a hint here and there, as we have opportuni- 
ty. No candid mind can hesitate for one moment to 
come to the conclusion that the consumption of thir- 
teen millions and thirty thousand dollars worth of 
rum or its equivalent, has been the cause of woe 
unutterable ; poverty, disease, death temporal, spirit- 
ual, and eternal. 

The number of human beings annually sacrificed 
upon the altar of rum, in this single city, I w^ill not 
attempt to enumerate. The picture is sufficiently 
frightful without asking the sexton how large a pro- 
portion of those whom he annually consigns to the 
tomb, are hurried to a premature grave by strong 
drink. 

But sad as is the picture, let not the reader turn 
hastily from it. Verily, as the Lord liveth, thou hast 
a duty to perform in this matter, and thou canst not be 
excused. I charge thee therefore before heaven and 
earth, to take the stand of a man, and maintain it, 
until the traffic in strong drink as a beverage shall 
be forever abolished. Even now while we are going 
to })ress, if we are rightly informed, there are nine 
men in the city under sentence of death, and the fatal 
deeds by which they have forfeited their lives, have 
mainly been committed under the influence of intoxi- 
cating liquors ! 



ADVICE TO COUNTRY CITIZENS: 

I have alread}^ said that poverty, sickness, suffer- 
ing, and sin, more abound in civic than in rural life. 
Yet how many seem to feel that if they could but 
get away from their quiet cabins, and kind friends, 
and shady groves and green fields, and be crammed 
and crowded, and packed and stuffed into some gloo- 
my garret, or mouldy cellar in a city, that they would 
soon be on the high road to wealth and fame. 

But as this too often happens to be a sad and se- 
rious mistake, perhaps I cannot serve this class of my 
readers better than to tell them of a few other sights 
that I have seen in the city to convince me that they 
had better stay where they are. 

Perhaps you may say we give you this advice lest, 
among others, we should have to feed you. 

Well, there may be some danger of that, we sup- 
pose, and therefore you had better stay where you 
are and feed us ! We shall surely starve if you all 
come : and you will very likely find the experiment 
not altogether safe for yourself. 

Now 1 am not going to boast, but I am going to 
say, that I have lived in the country and in the town, 
in the village and in the forest, and have seen enough 
of country and city life to satisfy me that real en- 
joyment abounds more in the former than in the lat- 
ter. 



136 ADVICE TO COUNTRY CITIZENS. 

Why pull up stakes? Why leave the country 
to try an experiment in the city, while the probabi- 
lities are in favor of a disappointment? I do not 
deny that there are many good things in the city — 
many indispensable things and folks too, some of 
which I intend to notice. But I do say that a city 
life has many draw-backs, many privations, many 
perils of which those who are accustomed to a quiet 
country residence know very little. For this and 
other reasons I desire to give my friends out of town, 
and especially young men, a hint on this subject, and 
if I have not, do not, or shall not speak as flatteringly 
of Gotham as some of its worshipers may desire, I 
can't help it. The truth must be told. 

Again, I ask, W^hy leave the land of your fathers, 
and home of your mothers, to seek your fortune in 
the city ? Is it that you may be more happy ? 
Ponder this question well. A city life is artificial. 
True, there are some things which are real ; such as 
trials, losses, frowns, failures, fears, pestilence, 
poverty, and hypocrisy. 

But some will come, for, some how or other, they 
have got the notion that if they were down here 
among the nabobs, matters and things would turn 
marvelously in their favor. 

Well, we will give you as favorable an introduc- 
tion to the city as we can, by first selecting for you 
as good a substitute for the old fire side which you 
have left behind, as circumstances will permit — as 
good board, and as clean a bed as you can afford to 
pay for. 

Having done this, which, though it is often a little 



ADVICE TO COUNTRY CITIZENS. 137 

difficLilt, is in fact a very small beginning, I will in- 
troduce you to Mr. A., who advertised for a clerk this 
morning, and you must not be too much disappointed 
if he does not at once throw open his arms and doors 
to receive you. 

" Good m.orning, Mr. A ; here is a young gentlema,n 
from the country, who would like to get a situation 
in a store, and by all that I can discover I am 
inclined to think that he is a very clever and upright 
young man. He has at least one important recom- 
mendation — namely, that of never having been out 
of sight of his mother before. Can you do anything 
for him?" 

" Well, I advertised for a clerk this morning, it is 
true, but before the ink on the paper was hardly dry, 
I not only had one engaged, but could have supplied 
all my neighbors. I am afraid young man, that you 
have come to the wrong market. Did your mother 
consent to have you come, or rather did she think it 
advisable ?" 

'* No, sir, not exactly. She said, she was afraid 
that I should miss it." 

'* Yes, I am afraid so, too. There are plenty of 
young men of good abilities in the city, who are 
travelling from door to door begging for employ, and 
how soon they will have to beg for something else, 
I know not ; and some of them are worse off than 
you, for they have no mother to go to. But there is 
a chance for them to carry the hod and some of them 
are glad to do it, though they keep saying to them- 
selves, ' Plague on it, there isn't much more honor in 
this after all, than there is in weeding broom-corn, 



138 ADVICE TO COUNTRY CITIZENS. 



over there on the Connecticut.' But it is living in 
the city, and that makes the difference." 

Yes, that makes the difference, and to be thus 
honored, many are willing to be 6?«5honored. But as 
I have been of so little service to you thus far, you 
resolve to go on your own hook, and tell your own 
story ; and not being very easily discouraged, you call 
upon another advertiser; and with no better success 
go home to your dinner, where some fop of a lazy vaga- 
bond who has already made your acquaintance, 
laughs at your ill success, with a ver}^ knowing air, 
and invites j^outo go with him after tea, to the bowl- 
ing alley, and says, " Now you must learn to smoke, 
and go to the theatre, and eat oyster-suppers, and 
drink champagne, and be liberal, or you will never 
get your eye-teeth cut." 

Conscience, at first, loudly remonstrates against a 
course which would thus set at nought a mother's 
counsel. But it must be remembered that conscience 
expects a good deal more wear and tear in the city, 
and will consequently submit to more, than in other 
places. 

The next morning, you resolve to start betimes to 
try your luck, and calling on Mr. B, you say, " Sir, I 
perceive that you advertised for a clerk this morn- 
ing, and I would like to get into a store, for I came 
all the way down here from the farther end of Ver- 
mont for that very purpose." 

*' Yes, I was in want of a little help," says the 
man, " but I am supplied. Yet a friend of mine in 
another part of the town would perhaps give you 
employment." 



ADVICE TO COUNTRY CITIZENS. 139 

Thus encouraged, you walk more than a mile, and 
call five or six times to find him, and then learn that 
he has already had thirty or forty calls, besides 
fathers, and mothers, uncles and aunts, cousins and 
friends to prefer their requests and vouchsafe their 
guarantees. 

Not quite discouraged yet, and hearing of another 
opening, you go as much farther, and call as many 
times to present your request. At length you are 
fortunate enough to have an interview with the 
merchant, and he saj^s, " Where did you come from ?" 

*' From the country," you reply. 

" What can you do ?" 

" Almost every thing, sir. I am just exactly the 
chap for you, to a dot. I can read and write, and 
even cipher, and although I don't exactly like to say 
it, yet all the old folks say that I am a leetle the 
smartest feller in all Podunk.'''' 

" Have you ever been in a store as a clerk ?" 

" Can't say that I have, in such a store as this, at 
least. But I have bought and sold sheep-skins, and 
can tell the worth of a cow to a hair." 

" I think that I should prefer a clerk already ac- 
quainted with the business, and in half an hour's 
time I can find a dozen such, who would be glad to 
work for almost nothing, just to get into business." 

By this time, confidence and faith begin to waver, 
and especially, as you frequently meet smart looking, 
enterprising young men who tell you that they have 
been trying hard for six months to get something to 
do, and have not in the whole time made enough to 



140 ADVICE TO COUNTRY CITIZENS. 

paj^ for their board, to say nothing about the washer- 
woman's bill. 

Still you go on, reading and running, day after 
day, and month after month, and yet, somehow or 
other, your golden dreams are not realized — impor- 
tant posts a,re not reached — obstructions do not dis- 
appear, nor the dollars ask permission to enter your 
pockets, while you begin to suspect that a city life 
is not all that it is " cracked up to be." 

Now, although this may not literally be the ex- 
perience of any of my readers, yet I tell you, there is 
too much truth in the picture, to be winked at. And 
not the half has been told. Many a ruined man — 
and ruined by the very folly which I am trying to 
expose, could, in writing his own history, tell a sad 
and bitter tale. 

But suppose you come, and succeed. What then ? 
Are you any better off? Probably not. I am more 
and more satisfied everyday, that ten dollars are not 
enjoyed as well in the city, as one dollar is in the 
country. Hence, all things considered, I would seri- 
ously advise almost every man who is accustomed 
to a country life, to hold on and enjoy it. And not a 
few who are already here, and have been working 
hard for manj^ a year, for a scanty living, have I 
urged to get away to a better land the first oppor- 
tunity. 

I have seen men of talents, professional men and 
others — men worthy of all confidence, and compe- 
tent to transact almost any business, v/alk about the 
city with a heavy heart, and a sad countenance, 
painful to behold, and I have said to myself, Poor men ! 



ADVICE TO COUNTRY CITIZENS. 141 

what a pity that when you were doing well in the 
country, you did not know enough to stay there. 
Yes, worthy competent men find it necessary in this 
flourishing city, to wear their stocks without collars, 
and their vests buttoned up to their chins, although 
the poor washer- women greatly regret it. 

Not only do young men often commit a sad mistake 
by leaving friends and home to try a city life, but 
their fathers sometimes do still worse. They sell the 
old homestead, where, for many years, peace and joy 
have reigned, and want and fear have seldom crossed 
their path. 

True, the homestead would not produce a fortune 
year by year, nor bring a fortune when sold, but it 
would yield more comforts than five times its value 
in gold will yield in town. And when it is turned 
into gold, and then into goods, stocks, or toys, the 
foolish experimenter finds that he has eaten il: all up, 
in less than three j^ears, and his children say, " Father 
dear, don't you wish we had our good old sweet home 
back again?" 

Poor man, that's a hard question ! And poor chil- 
dren ! they never find their father able to give them 
a lodging place on the good old homestead again. 

But it may be said that many men come to the 
city with hardly a dollar, and yet get rich. So they 
do, and such men would get rich in an eagle's nest 
on the crag of a rock. More depends upon the man 
than upon the location, as to his success. If he had 
staid in his own native rural district, perhaps he 
would not have accumulated quite so much, but he 
would have gained enough, lived as long, been as 



142 HINTS TO FEMALES. 



happy, and probabl}^ as useful. The grand error 
which leads a man to exchange a natural, healthful 
country life, for an artificia], sickl}^ pestilential at- 
mosphere in town, is ninety-nine times in a hundred 
a false estimation of his own ahililies. 

These are some of the reasons, though a small 
part, which induce me to advise country citizens to 
count the cost before pulling up stakes. Many others 
might be noticed, and none more important than the 
temptations to go astray, which every where so 
abound in a large crowded city. 

Yes, stay where you are, and pick greens, weed 
onions, put faggots under the pot, eat the pudding 
when it is done, and take comfort ; lest when you 
get down here and open your bundle of luck, you 
find that you have left the all-important article at 
home, and you regret exceedingl}' that it was ever 
your misfortune to be the smartest man in Podunk ! 

HINTS TO FEMALES. 

Young ladif^s also come to this city to seek their 
fortune. And who have a better right? And who 
deserve better success ? But they too, although it is 
too bad, are compelled to sa)% " All is not gold that 
glitters," nor real, that appears so. Yet we are so 
glad to see the good creatures come, that we hardly 
feel inclined to dissuade them, though when we take 
into consideration their best interests, we are less 
disposed to encourage the experiment than they will 
perhaps desire or expect. 

But as some may possibly turn an anxious eye to 
this volume of sights, hoping thereby to settle the 



HINTS TO FEMALES. 143 



question whether they had better do one thing or 
another, perhaps I ought to say a word to such, be- 
fore they weigh anchor, spread their sails, and for- 
sake their friends. For my fair readers, perhaps I 
shall have a rule for settling the important question, 
which will be quite acceptable to at least a part, but 
which we will waive until we give a few general 
hints. 

Much of what has just been said to young men on 
this subject, will be found more or less applicable to 
the fair sex. But although both men and women la- 
bor under many disadvantages on first coming to the 
city, yet the latter are subject to greater trials than 
the former. 

In the first place they can hardl}'- drive through 
thick and thin to accomplish their object, as can those 
who are more accustomed to rough pursuits and 
hard work. 

In the next place, they stand an unequal chance 
to make suitable acquaintances, and ^to gain a desir- 
able position in societ}^ Their chances for meeting 
with hypocrites, and for filling intosnnres, are four- 
old greater than in their own native towns. 

Moreover, the probabilities of settling well in the 
world, are greatly in favor of their own rural dis- 
tricts. By settlings I mean an opportunity to cast 
in their lot with those of their own choice, to share 
together the comforts, and mutually bear the burdens 
of life, to the consummation of which, many are look- 
ing with that deep interest which the wise arrange- 
ments of providence, and the greatest good of all 
demand. 



144 INTELLIGENCE OFFICE. 

But this is not all. It is quite evident that females 
more than others find a cit}* life prejudicial to health, 
and especially those who follow sedentary pursuits. 
As a general rule, the life of the female is too seden- 
tary any where. But in the country, they necessa- 
rily have more exercise than in the cit}^ and of a 
better character, and also breathe a purer atmos- 
phere, which is still more important. 

But perhaps none of these reasons, or any that I 
can give, will turn the scale in favor of rural life. 
Be that as it may, still my female friends in the coun- 
try may think they have a right to demand "line 
upon line," whether they have an ear to hear or not, 
and so I will just tell them what I sav/ at the 

" INTELLIGENCE OFFICE." 

This office, from its very name, will reveal even 
to the inexperienced reader, its character. You will 
naturally suppose that it is a depot for all the know- 
ledge that any one has to spare. And such in fact it 
seems to be. And it is astonishing to observe how 
much it will hold, for it is never full. I have repeat- 
edly seen the experiment made, but the attempt to 
fill it was always a perfect failure. Nevertheless, 
intelligence is here daily bought and sold. There 
are usually three parties present, when the office is 
open. The buyer, seller, and spectator ; and it is 
one of the most interesting spots for observation in 
the city. 

To these places scores, nay, hundreds, of females 
daily resort to obtain employment, where at the out- 
set they expect to meet many ladies who will, as a 



INTELLIGENCE OFFICE. 145 

matter of course, be captivated by their good looks 
and good works. 

"Can I render you any assistance, sir?" said the 
proprietor, as I stepped into his knowledge-dispensa- 
ry on a certain occasion. 

"Perhaps you can, sir," said I, in a whisper, "for I 
have come here hoping to get the privilege of taking 
from this favorable point, a view of human nature,^'* 

He smiled, took the hint, and made me welcome, 
and I was not a little amused, and withal instructed. 
Several ladies were present scanning those who oc- 
cupied the benches before them, asking all manner 
of questions, first of the proprietor, and then of such 
as he pointed out, or of such as they fancied, as 
though they intended to get the worth of their mo- 
ney. Some seemed to select a domestic very much 
as a man selects a horse, according to his good 
looks ! 

Whenever a cook was the object of search, I ob- 
served that the ladies estimated her fitness (let other 
recommendations be what they might) somewhat 
according to the absence of mineralogical deposits 
under her nails ! 

If a waiter was most in demand, holes in the heels 
of her stockings, and a superabundance of grease on 
her apron, were considered no special recommenda- 
tion for one designed to fill such a post, though she 
considered her chance in the market quite good 
enough, so long as she held between her fingers, some 
paper which she could not read, nor tell its meaning, 
and forged at that. 

If a child's nurse was sought, a bright young girl 



146 INTELLIGENCE OFFICE. 

just in her teens, if she was neither cross-eyed, nor 
cross-7iatiired, took pretty well, and if she spoke in 
an unknown tongue, all the better. The baby could 
soon learn to jabber Anglo-Dutch. 

But there was every variety of taste to be suited, 
no matter what the post. Some wanted Irish girls, 
and some wanted Dutch. Some wanted English 
girls, and some wanted Scotch. Some wanted White 
girls, and others wanted Black. One wanted a 
chamber-ma,\dy another wanted a kitchen-maid. Some 
wanted young maids, and others wanted Old maids. 

And while some were wanted to do this, and others 
to do that — some to cook, and some to wash— some 
to fold books or papers — some to make pants or 
vests — some to make caps or hats — some to tend 
shop or babies, the great majority had to go and 
come, and go and come, and go and come, and when 
the question was asked "What can you do?" "O 
almost every thing," was the ready response. They 
seemed, both the emploj^ers and employees, to feel 
that it would never do to be discouraged. The pro- 
prietor always thinks so too, and with him as with 
the rest, it is, " Try, try again," and so for the half 
dollar, or more or less, according to the bargain, he 
continues for three months, six, or twelve, to send to 
his lady-customers a whole ship-load of emigrants, 
if they are not satisfied with less, which is not likely 
to happen. 

Hence, I came to the conclusion that our female 
friends in the country had generally better remain at 
home, and feed the chickens, and milk the cows, and 
eat the butter, unless perchance some Abraham here. 



HINTS TO FEMALES. 14T 



should say to his servant, " Thou shalt not take a 
wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites 
among whom I dwell; but thou shalt go unto my 
country and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my 
son Isaac." 

Now here we shall perhaps get the credit of pre- 
senting a tolerably plausible argument in favor of 
coming to town, and especially if the servant should 
say, " The Lord hath blessed my master greatly, and 
he is become great : and he hath given him flocks 
and herds, and silver and gold, and man-servants, 
and maid-servants, and camels and asses," we sus- 
pect that '* Rebekah," with her mot]ter''s consent^ had 
better come ; and this is our rule, though we would 
not like to call even this, an infallible criterion ! 

Although we did not intend to give a dissertation 
on matrimon}', important and proper as it might be 
on a suitable occasion, yet as we have (though 
rather inadvertantly) given a connubial hint to the 
country-belles, the country-beaux may perhaps feel 
aggrieved if we should leave their fathers in the 
dark, touching the propriety of sending their servants 
to take wives unto their sons of the daughters of 
Sodom. 

Hence, we will briefly notice the claims to proper 
attention, w^hich our fair friends in town possess, and 
then beg to be excused from any further matrimonial 
controversy, for it has less to do with what I have 
seen in New York, than many other subjects far 
less important. 

That we have seen some in the citj^ not altogether 
qualified to be house-keepers, either in town or out, 



148 HINTS TO FEMALES. 



we would not like to deny. But it is generally their 
mother's fault, more than their own. They seem to 
have been born for slww ! This radical misfortune 
is the foundation of misery and woe from genera- 
tion to generation, and yet multitudes are so infa- 
tuated that they never find it out. They are first 
taught in the nursery for show. Then they are taken 
to church for show — sent to Madame 's board- 
ing-school for show — to the milliner, mantua-maker, 
musician, parlor, party, promenade, for show — taught 
to speak, and act, and think, and live and die for 
show. And for show they are buried ? 

Meanwhile, the mother fancies that she has really 
done the cleverest thing for her tinselled butterfly, 
that ever was, or can be done. But has she taught 
her daughter how to make bread ? 

Bread ! Horrible ! Who ever heard of a young 
lady's making bread. Wei!, never mind, the baker 
lives near by. Has she ever taught her how to darn 
the heels of her stockings? O no, she don't wear 
patched stockings. Well, has she learned how to do 
any useful thing ? Of course not. Why should she ? 
She was born for show, and if any body needs her 
services, it is P. T. Baraum ! 

Alas 1 it is painful to see the youthful mind sub- 
jected to such a training, a's fashion compels its vota- 
ries to submit to every day. And no w^onder that 
those who are born to breathe such an atmosphere, 
are so ill-prepared to adorn the mansion. No 
wonder that their beau-ideal is bounded by a circle 
too circumscribed to contain two short words which 



HINTS TO FEMALES. 149 

are so often in the months of some, and so seldom in 
the heads of others — Common sense ! 

But, we might have given a hint not much more 
flattering, to our lady friends when addressing them 
concerning our city beaux, had we been disposed ; for 
many young men in the city, are so trained up, that 
in the commerce of useful life they know not the 
right hand from the left. So far as living to any 
good purpose is concerned, their life is a perfect 
blank. They neither know nor care how others 
fare, nor have they any heart or tact to serve the 
company with a toe or a foot. In pursuits worse 
than useless, their skill and vigilance a,re seldom 
vv^anting. But much depends upon the man's mother, 
whether he is better or worse than a shadow — equal, 
or inferior to a stuffed- si lirt. 

But, we are not disposed to turn " Dickens." In 
many respects, we canH. In some, we wont. 

In speaking of the fair ones in town, and surely 
many of them are fit for the " World's Fair,^^ we 
take great pleasure, in saying, that multitudes are 
not subject to such an influence as we have briefly 
noticed. We have mothers, even in this degenerate 
age, of the right stamp, and hence sons and daughters 
too — yes, many bright spots yet remaining on the 
great map of city life. It does one good to look at 
them. 

We often hear it said, that American ladies make 
poor house-keepers. This charge, we happen to be 
very much inclined to deny. It generally comes from 
those who have a little interest on the other side of 
the water. That England's daughters are equal 



150 HINTS TO FEMALES. 



to ours in most respects, we very frankly admit. 
That they are superior, except in avoirdupois weight, 
we at once deny. That many of them are worthy 
of all commendation, we are compelled to acknow- 
ledge, even in speaking only of " What I saw in New 
York." 

Again, we sometimes hear it said that ladies in the 
city, are not fit to become the *' help- meets" of any, 
except those whose pockets are so endangered by an 
abnormal fulness, as to require frequent and long 
continued depletion. This is little else than a gross 
libel, and hence we deny the charge. That this may 
be said of the class noticed above — namely, those 
who live for show, we do not dispute. 

But that we have seen some — some ! did I say ? 
Nay, many charming, competent, clear-headed, good- 
hearted fair ones, whom many a man either at home 
or abroad, would consider himself very fortunate to 
get, at almost any pains, we suppose that nobody 
doubts. At any rate the parties do not. 

Whether we look at our female friends in the 
parlor, or in the street, in the social circle, or at the 
bedside of the sick and suffering — whether they are 
called to suffer affliction, or to enjoy prosperity — to 
sympathize with those who mourn, or to share with 
those who rejoice — whether they emerge from ob- 
scurity to occupy stations conspicuous and important, 
or by misfortune find it necessary to exchange the 
top of the ladder for the bottom, and give up their 
fine houses and glittering equipage — lay aside their 
rich attire — sell their beautiful ornaments — face a 
frowning world, and tabernacle in a forsaken garret, 



HINTS TO FEMALES. l51 

v.r diiigy cellar, they will doubtless favorably com- 
pare with those of any other city or country, not ex- 
cepting the old world. 

So, our bachelor friends who are hermitizing in the 
green vallies of old Connecticut, need iiot fancy that, 
because our belles in town, are not altogether fami- 
liar with hay-making, and potato-digging, that they 
are too stupid to learn. O no. They are equal to 
any emergency. They can dig the potatoes, and 
weed the onions, but don't let them be compelled to 
5tarve, or buy the ground to grow them on. 

What they want is, to " better their condition,'' and 
many of them are well enough off now, if they did 
but know it. Those who prefer a little change in 
their circumstances, ought to bear in mind that the}"" 
have often seen others who were similarly inclined, 
"jump out of the frying pan into the fire." 

But lest the reader should conclude that the writer 
is ready to advocate the doctrine that females were 
born simpl^^ to be house-keepers, we must dismiss this 
part of our subject and leave those who are not too 
bashful, to select companions wherever and when- 
ever the parties can be satisfied. 

In our remarks to country citizens, we hope that 
we have not given them an unfavorable opinion of 
the good people of Gotham. It has been our desire 
rather to stimulate all to think more than ever of 
their quiet, healthful, happy home, where the birds 
sing, chickens peep, and boys whistle — where the 
husbandman makes hay, and the house-wife makes 
hread, and her daughters make butter, and the bees 
make honey. 



152 HINTS TO FEMALES. 

To all, whether in town or out, w^e would say 
whoever and wherever you are, if you are doing 
well, be content, unless you prefer to do ill. If you 
are making an honest, comfortable living, be content, 
and congratulate yourself that " there is a good 
time coming." Better advice we know not how 
to give. 



PARTIES. 

Having given a hint about house-keeping, it may- 
be proper to speak briefly of our evening parties. 
Some of these private festivals are got up on a scale 
of extravagant magnificence, of which most of those 
who live in the country know very little. Indeed all 
in town, except the favored few, are nearly as igno- 
rant, except what they hear. 

Now, we are not going to say how much or how 
little should be expended on such occasions, but that 
the reader who happens to be little versed in such 
matters may know that these fashionable parties 
are not got up " for a song," although songs general- 
ly form no inconsiderable part of the attractions of 
these grand festivals, I will call his attention to two 
items of expense which attended a private party, 
that on a certain occasion exhibited "Upper tendom" 
in fair proportions, and which occurred not a thou- 
sand miles from the abode of the writer. That, 
however, did not make him an honored guest. So it 
forms no part of what 1 saw. 

The first item of expense attending said party, 
which I would notice, was incurred for beautifying 
the apartment by a florist. The room was a large 
one, or rather three rooms converted into one. The 
floral display, though in the dead of winter, was on 
a grand scale. The apartment was decorated with 



154 PARTIES. 



flowers of various kinds, colors and sizes, together 
with green leaves, evergreens, &c., throughout al- 
most every part, except the floor. 

But two articles interested me in the florist's descrip- 
tion of the display, more than all the rest. One of 
these he called the " Lustre,^'' and the other the '^ Py- 
ramid J^ The former occupied the place of the chan- 
delier — its perpendicular dimensions being about 
eight, and its circumference twenty-four feet. 

The particular construction, he said, was a secret, 
and as I do not wish to reveal too many secrets, the 
reader will excuse me for leaving that particular art 
in the dark, until it is lighted up. 

It undoubtedly had a metalic frame work to start 
with. This was enveloped in beautiful flowers of 
various tints, accompanied with green leaves, vines, 
&c., so as to make a magnificent display. From the 
midst of these sparkling gems, one hundred and twen- 
ty gas burners poured forth a flood of dazzling rays, 
which made it, as the florist remarked, " a fairy scene 
worth seeing.'' This is one of the sights which are 
seldom seen by the vulgar. 

The " pyramid" was of similar construction, though 
still a secret that every one can guess into daylight. 
Its size was sufficient to constitute a pretty respect- 
able boquet, to say the least, namel}^ eight feet in 
diameter at the base, and eighteen feet high. It 
stood in front of the flre-place, so as to perfectly hide 
it, while its brilliant lights glimmered among the 
leaves, and glittered among the roses with enchant- 
ing power. 

For this blooming, sparkling, dazzling display of 



PARTIES. 155 



the splendors of the " Green House," the florist re- 
ceived only $650. 

The remaining item of expense which I will no- 
lice, was for the supper. 

It is well known that we have in town, a man 
who is famous for pleasing all sorts of palates. Of 
course nothing short of such achievements could suf- 
fice on such an occasion, and hence this celebrated 
cuisinier was engaged to furnish the feast throughout, 
and for which he received the clever sum of $3,000. 

Now we do not pretend to know how much was 
paid for the music and a host of other items ; but we 
think the reader has already come to the conclusion 
that it was a festival on a grand scale, and must 
have cost about as much as all Michigan was consi- 
dered worth one hundred years ago. 

In the above instance, we know the host to be 
9.bundantly able to make a gorgeous display, and we 
would greatly prefer to have the gold and the silver 
widely diffused, even through the medium of roast 
turkies, fragrant roses, and sweet voices, than to be 
locked up. 

But there are evils attending these magnificent 
displays, which might be noticed, if it were thought 
advisable. We will barely advert to one ; namely, 
the temptation for others to try to imitate the exam- 
ple, who are not able to do so. We are aware that 
it is a foolish excuse, yet such is proud human nature 
that it will gratify ambition at any cost. 

Hence, says the man of much more moderate 
means, " Well, /can afford to make a party too," and 
at it he goes, and makes a parade to the very extent 



156 PARTIES. 



of his ability — nay, worse than that. He makes pro- 
mises to break them, in order to let the good people 
know that he can make his parlor shine and the sil- 
ver jingle ; and so of course the shoe-maker, and the 
tailor, and the grocer, and many others must wait for 
their honest dues — the promised money, until they 
can get it ; and frequently they never get it at all. 

But the party goes off with respectable eclat^ that's 
the main thing, and the host is satisfied that he truly 
belongs to the nobility, although he has expended 
only $500, which is $499 more than he can aftbrd. 

But this is not all. He looks down upon his neigh- 
bor who is a little nearer the bottom of the hill with 
a jealous eye, because he also is trying hard to make 
a show. 

Now, this spirit reminds me of one of the noble 
monsters of the great deep, making his way up the 
channel of our beautiful bay, astounding the tiny 
finny tribe with his wonderful exploits. As he 
ploughs his way through the briny fluid, a poor little 
«* June shad," being somewhat filled with vanity, fol- 
lows along in his wake, trying to imitate his " prede- 
cessor ;" and after swelling, and flouncing, and 
spreading his fins, and flapping his tail, he looks 
down upon the little wigglers near the bottom, which 
are beginning to catch the spirit, and make a stir, 
and eyes them with a meaning air, as much as to 
say, " There ! don't you wish you could ? You may 
just as well stop ! You try to be a whale, eh ! Bah !" 
and tries to spout. 



"MAY-DAY." 

In speaking of New-York, perhaps I ought to say 
a word about May-Day ! It seems to be a part of 
the town as well as a part of time. It is a period 
which annually affects the destiny of men, women, 
and children far more than an}^ other day in the year ; 
and its influence is even felt until the last day of the 
succeeding April. 

It is so customary to " move'^ on this day, that it 
would seem that many change their residences just 
to be in the. fashion. The fact is, people will do almost 
any thing, but do right, for fashion, which is another 
name for show. One would suppose that an annual 
move for half a century or more, ought to give pos- 
session of a pretty good home. 

But the truth is, the more we shift and turn, and 
change and move, the less we feel at home. We are 
more like travellers who stop on their journe}^ for 
the night, and start on the next morning, with little 
or no attachment to their lodging-place, and well- 
nigh forget it by the next setting sun. 

Still we can sometimes pull up stakes and set them 
down again, to our advantage. More frequently, 
however, the gain is more apparent than real. When 
we begin to fancy that our dwellings are becoming 
a little too antique and unfashionable, quite too rick- 
ety, abounding with too many cracks and rats, wo 



158 MAY-DAY. 



say, " Well, T shall be glad when ' ]May-day' comes, 
for I am tired of these old barracks." 

Well, " May-day" comes, and so of course we move, 
and not only go away from home^ but take a house 
with more imperfections, perhaps, if not the same, 
and one which the late occupant is very glad to ex- 
change for the one we leave, and while this mutual 
exchange occurs — this emptying of one houseful into 
another, both parties are satisfied, for " a new broom 
sweeps clean." But it will be nothing very strange 
if the next May-day finds the parties equally ready 
to make a similar exchange. 

Possibly, the next year the parties are wise enough 
to stay at home, look on, and see others foolish enough 
to go the same round, and rejoice not a little that 
they are clear of the hurl}^ burl}-, wear and tear of 
May-day. 

Still, some must move, and others will, very much 
to the satisfaction of carmen ; and the reasons are as 
numerous as the movers. Some m.ove to get a larger 
house, and some a smaller — some a better, and others 
a worse. Some move to be more convenient to their 
business, some to be handy to church, some to be in 
the fashion, some to improve their health, and others 
to save their money. 

If a man has a large salary, he must of course 
have a large house, if his family is never so small. 
If a small one, he must be content with a little more 
humble abode. And if he has little or no income, 
he must either take the garret or cheat the landlord, 
and not a few prefer the latter. 

It frequently happens that the landlord is com- 



MAY'DAY. 159 



pelled to either eject his tenant, or wink at robbery and 
shelter rogues. Moreover, he is liable to err himself , 
by supposing that, because the occupant pays 
promptly and murmurs not, he will not hesitate to 
submit to an annual stretching of the rent, strangely 
supposing that while his house is getting older 
and poorer, his tenant can afford to pay more and 
more for the privilege of staying in it to hold it up. 
These and various other influences, conspire to make 
the first day of May unlike all other days in New 
York. 

But it would be impossible for me to describe all 
the curious sights which these occasions furnish 
even if J should try, and for this reason, if no other, 
I think it prudent not to attempt it. When this 
migration-day dawns upon the city, then look out 
early for carts and commotion. Every one is lucky 
who does not get a torn-coat, a bumped-head, or a 
strained-back. As for broken crocker}^ bruised tables, 
shattered chairs, injured sofas, crushed baskets, lost 
boxes, stolen garments — a confused brain, sooty face, 
and a thread-bare patience, nobody thinks anything 
of that. 

Go where you will, and look which way you will, 
you see loads of goods of every description, both large 
and small, faluable and worthless, moving hither 
and thither, in as many directions as there are ave- 
nues to follow. Some of the movers have all their 
effects on their backs. Others consider themselves 
above mediocrity when they discover that the old 
wheel-barrow is heaping full, and with happy hearts 
they trundle on, and rejoice to reach *' sweet home.'^ 



160 MAY-DAY. 



But whether they have little or much, it requires 
time and labor, strength and patience to put every- 
thing in its appropriate place, and make one feel at 
home, as every body is aware who has ever moved^ 
whether in town or not. And, all things considered, 
there is some truth in the old saying, " two moves 
are as bad as a hurn.''^ 

Well, after getting possession of the new abode, 
and acquiring a healthy equilibrium of soul and body, 
we are prepared to make the best of our chosen 
habitation, whether good or bad ; and with one impor- 
tant article to grace the cabin, we shall probably 
take as much comfort as most of our neighbors, no 
matter what their possessions or professions. This 
rare quality — namely, a contented mind, is often too 
little appreciated, and consequently the result is as 
might be expected. 

Hence, we have those who are uneasy, unstable, 
unsettled, and unhappj^ They change their resi- 
dence, and are not satisfied. They buy new furni- 
ture, and find fault. They changed their bakers, 
and change their butchers, and change their drapers, 
and change their doctors, and change their papers, 
and change their pastors ; and without one change 
more, viz., a change in themselves, real comfort will 
continue to remain as great a strangei^o them, as 
to a " toad under a harrow." 

Many changes, and greatly for the better, are daily 
occurring in our metropolis, and there is plenty of 
room for more. Vacant lots are covered with mag- 
nificent palaces. Rickety shanties give place to 



PESTS. 161 



splendid mansions ; smoky huts to towering stores, 
banks, hotels and churches. 

PESTS. 

Although the reader has already been pretty well 
supplied with pests, and for the want of which the 
writer has no reason to complain, yet there are " a 
few more of the same sort." 

Whether it is because they are better fed. or bet- 
ter housed, I know not ; but for some reason or other 
rats and mice are more numerous here than almost 
any where else. Our city rats are a little more aban- 
doned and saucy than country rats, and our cats are 
either too refined, or too lazy to touch them, with a 
few exceptions ; and as these disturbers of our peace 
are greatly in favor of civic life, and decidedly op- 
posed to emigration, we must submit to the annoy- 
ance of having our houses gnawed, dreams disturb- 
ed, and bread nibbled. At any rate they do annoy 
us not a little. 

But this is not all. Another class of intruders (our 
long-billed-buzzing-suckers, which become our blood- 
relation by 'practice, if they are not by nature) have 
the impudence to take possession of our apartments, 
whether we consent or not, and maintain their posi- 
tion through many a sanguinary and successful strug- 
gle. 

I know not that other people are so much annoyed 
by these tormentors, as is the writer. We sometimes 
find those who are so fond of music that they can en- 
joy the vibrations of a sliver on a rail in a whirl- 
wind, and possibly persons of such an exquisite per- 



162 PESTS. 



ception, can appreciate the sweet strains of these 
nocturnal serenaders. If so, let them have a full 
band from July till November, and from sunset till 
sunrise, every night. 

Yes, the New- York musquetoes are almost enough 
to vex a good-natured man into spasmodic resent- 
ment ; and especially if he has from any cause, lost 
two or three nightsV sleep. One would suppose that 
with all our refinement in manners, and ail our im- 
provements in the healing art — such as " artificial 
leeches," artificial patients, and artificial doctors, this 
coarse, vulgar mode of bloodletting ought to have 
been obsolete long ago. 

But as far as this particular form of depletion is 
concerned, we are growing more uncivilized every 
year. What the cause of this can be, I do not pre- 
tend to know. Some say that the introduction of the 
Croton, has increased the sanguinary flock, and if so, 
we must make the best of it, for we can do with 
them, better than without it. Possibly, the more we 
use it, the better they like us. 

Be this as it may, I think I never saw any quite 
so impudent anywhere else, though one would hardly 
suppose it. I recollect very well of once forming a 
very unfavorable opinion of these unwelcome visit- 
ors, when attacked by a hungry swarm more than a 
score of years since, and as many miles back from 
Lake St. Clair, in their undisturbed haunts, and con- 
genial abode ; but either because they had not be- 
come sufficiently acquainted with, to be partial to the 
white man, or for some other cause, they were more 
tolerable than our winged New-Yorkers. True we 



PESTS. 163 



can protect our veins by rolling ourselves up in a Bur- 
gundy-pitch plaster. Some, however, prefer its sub- 
stitute, a rnusquetoe net. 

As for cockroaches, and other insects, they are too 
numerous to mention ; but we must endure them as 
well as we can, or leave town. 

If there ever was a checkered scene, it is to be 
found in city life. Every thing good and bad, great 
and small, safe and hazardous, beautiful and hateful, 
joyful and sorrowful, blissful and woful, are linked 
together and chained to the great wheel of " perpe- 
tual motion." 



BROADWAY. 

This is the great fashionable promenade of Goth- 
am, where all the belles, beaux, and babies — Knick- 
erbockers and Yankees, are shown up to the best ad- 
vantage. It is moreover a great thoroughfare for 
almost every thing else. 

It is often interesting to go into this exhibiting 
hall, where the artist goes for contrasts, and soon 
finds enough to cover all the canvass in his studio. 

Here we behold every shade and grade of display 
imaginable ; every variety of condition in life, des- 
cribable, and almost every article desirable ; all man- 
ner of rudeness and politeness, kindness and cold- 
ness, mistakes, mishaps, and misdeeds. Here the 
old and the young, the wise and the foolish, the rich 
and the poor, the fop and the flirt, the banker and 
the beggar, meet and pass, and smile and frown, and 
court and scorn, and help and hinder, and jostle 
against each other while striving to avoid juxtapo- 
sition, or make the line of separation broader than 
necessity demands, lest friendship kith or kin should 
be suspected ; for some shun their friends sooner here 
than any where else ; while others make as many 
acquaintances, as time, policy, and circumstances 
will admit. 

The teeming multitude move through this crowd- 



BROADWAY. 165 



ed avenue (all in a hurry) in every variety of man- 
ner and posture, and by every variety of means. 
The vehicles embrace all sorts of v^^agons, double and 
single ; all sorts of stages, public and private ; all 
sorts of hacks, ancient and modern ; all sorts of car- 
riages, curious and common ; all sorts of horse-carts, 
hand-carts, dog-carts, goat-carts, meat-carts, bread- 
carts, wood-carts, ash-carts, swill-carts, and dirt- 
carts, together with cars, wheelbarrows, sleds, sleighs, 
jumpers, (Stc. 

The motive power by which these vehicles are 
propelled consists mainly of quadrupeds, bipeds, and 
steam. Such as elephants, camels, oxen, horses, po- 
nies, mules, donkies, dogs, goats, men, women, and 
children. All put together make a pretty good team, 
without the steam. 

To attempt to describe all the goods, wares, and 
merchandize of this notable avenue, all the busy 
mortals of every caste, color, and clime, all the huck- 
sters, tinkers and fiddlers, to say nothing about " Yan- 
kee Notions," together with all manner of sights and 
sounds, would frighten both the writer and the 
reader. 

But I must notice one of the many valuable car- 
goes which I have seen drawn through this tho- 
roughfare, very much to the amusement of specta- 
tors who were somewhat unaccustomed to the com- 
merce of Broadway. 

The one to which I particularly allude was drawn 
by a man, his wife and his dog ; and consisted of a 
cartload of swill. The old lady went behind, and 
when the man and the dog pulled, she pushed, and 



166 BROADWAY. 



with their antidote for squealing, no matter who 
laughed, or who cried, they pulled on, harder and 
harder, and probably were happier and better off 
than many despisers who had no pigs to feed. 

These pork-makers usually reside in the outskirts 
of the cit3% and some of them keep thirty or forty 
hogs, with a few fowls, and occasionally a cow. 

Moreover, some of them are coming up in the 
world and are beginning to drive two dogs, and even 
three. While others have met with still greater suc- 
cess, and come out with their horses and wagons. 
And not only so, but they show their good sense by 
keeping the animals covered with some old quilt or 
blanket, lest too much time should be devoted to the 
study of comparative anatomy, as some of these quad- 
rupeds would otherwise make an exhibition of liv- 
ing skeletons. 

In this hog-fattening vvay, these our worthy fellow- 
citizens (for they are far more worthy than many who 
wear finer cloth, and make others pay for it) live a 
quiet life, and comfortably support their' families ; 
and fathers and mothers are able to set up their sons 
and their daughters in the business by the time that 
they are of lawful age, and competent to fill such 
important posts. Yes, set them up with a splendid 
outfit of dog, cart, harness and bucket. And under 
such favorable auspices, and years experience, the 
road to wealth and fame is pretty straight, as the 
steaks, hams, and sausages readily find the way to 
market, and we don't know any better than to eat 
them. 



BROADWAY. 167 



So much for piggeries, but they are generally a 
little out of Broadway. 

Although I had proposed to notice but one of the 
numerous cargoes which I had seen transported 
through this famous, fashionable street, yet I will 
briefly notice another, which I acknowledge is a lit- 
tle more rare, and did not commend itself so much 
to the admiration and commendation of the writer, 
as the above. 

Well, in going down Broadway whom should I 
see, almost as soon as my feet were on the sidewalk, 
but a woman with a boy on her back (of course she 
was on the fashionable side) who was almost or 
quite large enough to carry his mother, and from his 
appearance, few I apprehend would have been will- 
ing to risk him alone among their silver-ware ; I 
mean so far as strength and locomotion were con- 
cerned. 

Still, some were sufficiently interested to be willing 
to pay the woman pretty liberally for lugging about 
the lubber with his feet almost drawing on the side- 
walk, because they supposed the poor boy could not 
appear among the nabobs, if the kind mother had not 
carried out the great booby on her back. 

Well, never mind, she can carry the fellow a little 
longer, and the money too ; and very soon he will be 
able to carry her, if we feed him well, and it is hard 
to sa}'- which will attract the more attention. 



168 BROADWAY. 



RECKLESS DRIVING. 



But we not only see much in this street to amuse 
us, but some things to annoy and provoke us. While 
standing on the walk in the upper part of the street, 
where pedestrians and others are much less numer- 
ous than in the lower part, I saw two dandies in a 
light wagon coming up, driving a span of horses 
most furiously, which made me fear that somebody 
would get hurt by their dangerous and unjustifiable 
speed. And this made me watch them the closer. 

A lad, about half way to manhood, was standing 
in the middle of the street, without any apparent in- 
clination to pass to either side. He appeared to see 
the vehicle approaching, yet made no more effort to 
get out of the way than if he had been a statue. 
This, I confess, made me a little nervous. The driver 
evidently saw him, for the boy then had the street all 
to himself. And yet he never made the least attempt 
to check his horses or change their course, and hence 
contact was unavoidable. 

The horses knocked him down, and gave him so 
much momentum, that horses, wagon, boy and all 
went on together I should think at least a rod, and I 
could hardly tell which rolled the better or the faster, 
the boy or the wheels. The horses passed over him 
as well as they could, and the wagon too ; the boy 
jumped up and started off, and glad to get off so ; 
the rascal of a driver never checked his horses, nor 
turned his head to see whether the boy was dead or 
alive ; and I could have seen the big key of " Sing 
Sing" turned upon him with an excellent relish. 



RUNNING THE GANTLET. SCENE IN AN OMNIBUS. 169 

RUNNING THE GANTLET. 

Passing down the street to the most crowded por- 
tion, and while immediately in front of the " Astor 
House," I observed a man making an attempt to 
cross the street in the midst of a thicket of horses 
and vehicles so crowded and crammed, that I doubt- 
ed his success. He had with him a beautiful little 
spaniel, which deserved better treatment than his 
master, and received worse, for the man at length 
reached the walk in safety, while the dog was kick- 
ed and cuffed by the horses' feet, and run over at 
last, though fortunately by a light wagon, and after 
dodging this way and that, in much confusion, he 
reached the walk, and ran up to his master, expect- 
ing much credit for having so successfully run the 
gantlet, and received a caning over the head for his 
bad luck ; and I found it hard to avoid wishing that 
the inhuman master had been in the dog's place 
where he would have got at least one kick ! 

SCENE IN AN OMNIBUS. 

A world in miniature is a stage load of passengers, 
and more than once have I been greatly amused in 
such a company ; and to make the variety all the 
greater, I have sometimes been a little annoyed. 

Once on a day of bustling commotion, when stacks 
of mud dotted the streets and bespattered the side- 
walks, I took my seat in one of these velveted vehi- 
cles with a strong inclination to make the most of 
a ride through Broadway, and get the worth of my 
money, which, perhaps, I ought to tell the reader, 



170 SCENE IN AN OMNIBUS. 

who is not in the habit of riding in such modern 
carts, was six and quarter cents, more or less. 

Well, after the driver had stopped and started, and 
opened and shut his clattering cage fifteen or sixteen 
times, with a little squeezing, scolding and scowling, 
we had a load of men, women and children, in silks 
and rags — bankers and brokers, tinkers and tailors, 
laborers and lawyers, &c. 

I said that squeezing was a part of the process of 
stage packing, and although a little unpleasant, it 
seems to be quite indispensable, and for at least three 
reasons. In the first place, it is hard for the driver 
to believe that twelve seats are ever all occupied. 
I have seen him with his characteristic philanthropy, 
throw open his door to the weary traveller, when 
almost every seat and lap within was well nigh 
twice occupied, though the party of which I am now 
speaking, did not happen to be quite so numerous. 

Then, the fair sex — bless their hearts, they don't 
intend any harm by it — sometimes forget that they 
expect to pay for only a single seat. This subjects 
others to a little extra compression, though they be 
not fond of" tight lacing." 

Again, the t^wfair sex, after being comfortably 
seated, sometimes seem never to suspect that the om- 
nibus was ever made for anybody else. But any 
way to get a ride. 

Nearly opposite the writer sat a man, so outra- 
geously cross-eyed, that I should have approved the 
act if some one had pulled the signal-strap opposite 
some surgeon's door, and invited the man to stop and 
have the crooked made straight. For it is an outrage 



I3R0ADWAY. 171 



for any man to suffer himself to go through life thus 
disfigured, when the difficulty is so easily remedied. 

But as he appeared to enjoy the faculty of seeing 
all who sat facing him, and on his right and left^ at 
one and the same time, perhaps he would have ob- 
jected to any modification that could have been pro- 
posed. 

By his side sat a lady whose eyes were in a better 
condition than her baby's hands, which were so full 
of greasy cake and sticky candy, and the importance 
of showing his sweetened face to all present, was so 
great, that those who left the stage as free from 
butter and molasses as they entered it, had reason to 
be thankful. 

At length she pulled the strap, and the nimble six- 
pence was passed up to the driver and she prepared 
to leave, while nobody would have objected if she 
had taken away the oily fragments of the cake 
which she left on the seat. But, as it was, a decided 
improvement was admitted, for even the cross-eyed 
traveller evidently appreciated the exchange, as a lady 
stepped in and took her place, and covered up the 
crumbs. She supposed herself to be one of the 
" upper tens," though others possibly doubted it. 
But the silk rattled, and the fan fluttered, and the 
gold glittered, and the diamonds sparkled, while she 
gazed with rather a suspicious mien at a modest- 
looking young woman who sat near by, with a large 
bundle of cut-cloth from the tailor's, ready to be made 
into pants, lying on her lap. 

Her peculiar air, as she eyed the young woman, 
reminded me of the time when one of the young 



1*72 BROADWAY. 



bloods said to his father on a certain occasion, 
*' Papa, is it right for poor working people to ride in 
the same stage with us ?" But so it is, in the 
Omnibus — the rich and the poor must mingle and 
commingle together, and thus distinction, rank, a,nd 
caste are necessarily moulded into a healthy equili- 
brium. 

But none in the stage, not even the woman in silk, 
looked half so happy as the seamstress in calico, for 
her very countenance seemed to indicate that she 
anticipated many comforts from her own earnings, 
though poorly paid. 

I will not stop to notice the next in rotation — a 
young flirt who seemed to think too much of her 
rings, and too little of her brains. Neither is it 
necessary that I should say much about the man who 
sat so near, that when I got up to go out, 1 might 
have been mistaken for a miller. Poor man, I 
suppose that he either had not time to brush his 
clothes overmuch, before he left the meal-chest, or 
he thought that others could brush enough to make 
it up. 

But the most important character to be noticed, 
and one which produced the greatest sensation among 
the passengers in the vehicle, was a tobacco-chewer, 
of the genuine, liberal stamp. He made a spittoon 
of the bottom of the stage, which needed emptying 
and scrubbing before we got half through Broadway. 
This liberal distribution of the precious infusion of 
foolsbane, was made at the enormous expense of 
shining gaiters and white stockings, cambric skirts 



BROADWAY. 173 



and silk dresses, polished boots and best wishes of 
the fair sex. 

The upper ten leAy made a commendable effort to 
escape the chestnut colored dye, but we thought for a 
time that there was a little too much silk and saliva 
to succeed. So she thought, and she looked at him — 
and who could blame her — looked at him, did I say ! 
Alas ! for the man, if his sensibilities had not been 
so stunted and blunted by the drug. As it was, he 
endured the rebuke with heroic indifference, though 
he must have known, with all the stupifying influence 
of the poison, that she was more than half disposed 
to sa)^, Do swallow it, if you love it so well. 

Nevertheless, with all the cakes, candies, and 
crackers ; and with all the imperfections, impedi- 
ments, and impertinence of the occasion, we jogged 
along in a tolerably satisfactory manner, with now 
and then an incident of thrilling interest, either 
within or without. The reader is already quite 
familiar enough with the former, and the latter can 
hardly claim our attention. Perhaps, on such an 
occasion, I shall be pardoned for briefly alluding to 
one. 

About the time that we crossed Leonard-street, I 
observed that all eyes were turned in a certain direc- 
tion to see, 1 knew not what. 

Maids came out to empty their suds, and dofled 
their tubs, and stood aghast ! 

Men held their horses, and out with their glasses, 
and wondered in masses, as stupid as asses, as the 
optic nerve was thoroughly put to the test. 



174 BROADWAY. 



Ladies raised their veils, eyes, windows, and hands 
and were ready to say, " O my /" 

Beggars forgot their calling, peddlers stopped their 
bawling, "sweep-ho's" ceased their drawling, arid 
cripples too their crawling ! 

By this time every passenger seemed determined 
to know what it was that made such a staring, strain- 
ing, and gazing, on the right hand and on the left. 

And what was it, and who was it ? 

A dandy on horse-back ! That's all. 

Now there is more truth than poetry in all this, 
and although it may and ought to appear a very tri- 
fling affair to the reader, yet the writer has rarely 
seen any private citizen attract more attention for 
the time. To me, he was a perfect stranger, and 
j^et the introduction was equal to a year's acquain- 
tance. 

But, it was not so much the man who made such a 
stir, after all, as it was the hugest, longest, coarsest, 
over-grown, over-colored, over-distended, over-twist- 
ed pair of mustaches that ever passed through Broad- 
way unspoken for. 

His face was shaved to a hair, except the horns, 
which gave them that illustrious conspectability 
which had with remarkable satisfaction been attain- 
ed. But unfortunately these beautiful appendages 
did not become the man. O no, he was not rightly 
built for them. No matter if they didn't. He could 
do better without his dinner than without them, and 
if they suited him, that's enough. 

Conscious that he was admired by legions of eyes, 
he rode a.s straight and as stiff as a flag-staff, and 



BROADWAY. 1 '^5 



being an accommodating sort of a iiorned biped on 
exhibition, he gave spectators a good opportunity to 
see what the poor animal under him seem to be 
ashamed of, judging from the drooping of its head 
and tail. But never mind that ; he rode fast, and 
rode slow, so as to pass us, and then let us pass him, 
as he looked at his watch and then at the ladies ; 
and every time that he passed or we passed, he took 
very commendable pains to give as good an exhibi- 
tion of his upper facial half, as was compatible with 
a variety of circumstances. 

And didn't we know him ? 

Moreover, he was not chary of his pains to give 
his ornaments, at proper intervals, a graceful twirl, 
which, by the way, nature and art, as far as length, 
color, and volume were concerned, had transformed 
into a respectable imitation of the beard of a gobbler ^ 
though they were not half so becoming. 

A little behind, rode the groom, and at an awkward 
rate and gait notwitstanding a special effort at 
graceful horsemanship. The imitation was so per- 
fect that I could think of nothing else but a man row- 
ing a boat and churning butter. 

Moreover, he too was something of a character, 
and he took as much pains to keep at least a rod be- 
hind, as he evidently had to humble his mustaches, 
lest they should be mistaken for his master's for he 
well knew that only a slight approximation would 
be tolerated. Hence he kept them so trimmed 
down, that, had the young sprouts been as green as 
the soil on which they grew, they would have resem- 
bled a bed of young onions when they first sprout up 



176 BROADWAY. 



from the seed, and attain the height of about an 
inch. 

As for his master's, to speak within bounds, their 
length multiplied by ten, would give about the width 
of a certain shoe-shop in town, hereafter to be no- 
ticed. 

But we will let every man go through Broadway 
hair- faced, or bare-faced, according to his own fan- 
cy, if the city fathers will only make the street a lit- 
tle wider and a good deal cleaner. But with the 
present amount of dust, we should be sorry to have 
mustaches proscribed. 

The beautiful stores, both w^holesale and retail, in 
Broadway, should be visited by the stranger. Quite 
enough can be seen while standing on the sidewalk, 
to occupy with profit a week's careful examination. 
The splendid display in the window^s of goods, wares, 
and merchandize almost dazzle.? the eyes of the own- 
ers, and, if I mistake not, sometimes quite bewilders 
the brains of others. Many of these stores are mag- 
nificent, and one is without a parallel in the world I 

Then the commodious and palace-like hotels which 
are already built, and others going up, such as Lon- 
don never saw, nor any thing nearer than their cou- 
sins, according to neighbor Greeley's interesting let- 
ters, offer sufficient inducements to any stranger to 
tabernacle in them as long as it may be convenient. 

The beautiful churches, ofiices, and other build- 
ings, not forgetting Barnum's Museum, Tripler Hall, 
&c., will also be examined with pleasure and profit, 
though I cannot go into any details concerning their 
construction or merits. A man cannot alwavs tell 



BROADWAY. 177 



what he has seen. Sometimes he will not. At other 
times he should not. And frequently he dare not. 

But I must briefly notice the Dry-Goods Palace, al- 
luded to above, namel}?-, the store of Messrs. Alex- 
ander H. Stewart & Co., which presents a beautiful 
front of 377 feet on Broadway, Chambers and Reade 
streets, being five stories high. Its front on Broad- 
way and Chambers-street is constructed of white mar- 
ble, and presents an imposing appearance. 

The lower floor is devoted exclusively to the retail 
trade, and each department has its appointed clerk 
or clerks, no matter what his function, whether it is 
to sell bobbin, bombazine, or buckram, and he 
hardly steps over his boundary lines, except to go 
out and in. 

The upper floors embrace the wholesale trade, 
and can accommodate a pretty good share of the 
merchants of North America, both as respects space 
and merchandize. The number of men required to 
manage this concern is about 250, and the amount 
of goods sold the past year, is said (by those who do 
not know) to be $5,000,000. 

While speaking of Broadway, perhaps I ought to 
say a word about the street. The reader who is not 
familiar with the city must not conclude that the 
street is what its name indicates. It is a very serious 
inconvenience that it is not. We are quite too fa- 
miliar with the radical error of the city fathers in 
the days of yore, touching the width of this thorough- 
fare, which is about half as much as it should be : 
especially in the lower part, where vehicles of every 



178 BROADWAY. 



description concentrate. Its entire width is 80 feet. 
But, exclusive of the side-walks, it is only 42 feet. 

The reader will, perhaps, have a better idea of the 
pressing necessity of a broader thoroughfare by my 
stating one circumstance. I took my stand at a cen- 
tral point to ascertain the number of passing vehi- 
cles in one hour, which I found to be 1,200. At this 
rate, there would pass in one day, calling it only 
twelve hours, 14,400 vehicles. 

But there is another circumstance which I ought 
to notice, as it increases the necessity for stretching 
this famous street a little in width. 

Broadway is like a boy who grows so fast that he 
can't stop to tie up his shoes. Every thing in the 
streets and on the walks is untied, unpacked, unroll- 
ed, unboxed. Doors, windows, walls, roofs, brick, 
stone, mortar, dust and splinters daily come tumb- 
ling down to make way for banks, stores, halls, ho- 
tels, shops, offices, &c. &c. 

Cart-loads of stone, and ship-loads of timber, 
boat-loads of brick, and sloop-loads of lime, wa- 
gon-loads, wheelbarrow-loads, and back-loads of va- 
rious other building materials are thrown together, 
piled up, heaped up, and stacked up, or scattered 
about in wild confusion, hither and thither through 
the street, so that men, women and children, 
horses, donkies, and dogs have to look out sharp for 
snags, and are pretty lucky if they do not sink. It 
is difficult to tell which would present the more rag- 
ged appearance, the channel of the Mississippi River 
drained dry, or Broadway in New- York at certain 
seasons. 



BROADWAY. 179 



The, number of buildings now in a transition state 
in this thoroughfare, we find to be fifty-six, and we 
do not expect to live long enough to see these and 
all similar improvements completed. 

Moreover, the street is almost perpetually obstruct- 
ed, from the first of January till the last of December, 
by pavers, at diff'erent points, and also by sewer- 
builders, vault-makers, &:c., to say nothing of apple 
peddlers, cake- venders, ash-boxes, and swill-tubs ; to- 
gether with hillocks of mortar, and mounds of mud ; 
with now and then a broken cart, a dead horse, dog 
or cat, and various other obstructions that we can 
neither mention, avoid, nor remedy. 

After all, Broadway is a beautiful street, as well 
as a stirring thoroughfare, and is a pretty fair repre- 
sentative of this great city. But the continual rumb- 
ling of ponderous wheels on flinty tracks — the clat- 
tering of legions of iron-bound hoofs, as though rush- 
ing to battle — the metallic rattling of bars of iron 
and rods of steel on the dray-man's cart — the gong- 
like, tornado-like, oceanic, unceasing roar and tu- 
mult of this bustling street, make it less inviting than 
it otherwise would be to promenaders who love to 
chat, as well as walk. But for those who ramble, 
mainly to see and be seen, Broadway is pre-eminent- 
ly an inviting resort. 

But we must leave this famous street, with all its 
attractions and imperfections, all that is valuable and 
worthless, animate and inanimate, permanent and 
transient, to take a peep at other places, matters, and 
things which though less conspicuous,, are perhaps 
equally important. 



180 SPECIMEN OF NAMES. 

Among other things it is somewhat amusing to 
notice in passing through our streets, an almost end- 
les's variety of names, titles, characters, symbols, hi- 
eroglyphics, &c., with which numberless signs, doors, 
gates, and posts abound. One would suppose that 
it must have long taxed the ingenuity and patience 
of a nation of linguists to invent so many break-jaw- 
names, which many a daring nomenclator would 
hardly undertake to spell, much less to pronounce, 
and less still to write from the pronunciation of the 
owners. Where all these strange words have come 
from, we would not like to say. Perhaps the printer 
who has had his types in " pi," can answer the ques- 
tion. 

A few for a sample will suffice. Well, there is Mr. 
*'Blehl," and Mr. "Schnitzpahn," and Mr. "Cong- 
nacq," and Mr. "Schweppenheiser," and Mr. "Chi- 
shofcke," and Mr. " Schvvoerir," &c. &c. 

As to the color of our population, here is Mr. Black, 
and there is Mr. White, nnd a little farther on we 
find Messrs. Slate, Gray, Green, Brown, Blue, Orange 
Pink, and Purple. 

The physical structure of our human fabric exhi- 
bits quite a variety of materials, for we find mingled 
together Messrs. Stone, Iron, Steel, Clay, Sand, Brick, 
Wood (the outside bark of which belongs to the wri- 
ter) Beam, Brace, Post, Stud, Sill, Board, Shingle, 
Glass and Slate. In addition to these, we are pro- 
vided with men of other qualities, such as Mr. Long, 
Short, Broad, Small, Strong, W^eek, Stout, Smart, 
Quick, Sharp, Blunt, Keen, Sweet, Sour, Bitter, Good, 



BRIGHT SPOTS. 181 



Better, Best, Goodspeed, Goodenough, Goodman, 
Goodchild, and Goodall. 

But this is not all. As far as names are concern- 
ed, the brute creation have also a pretty fair repre- 
sentation. A brief notice, however, of the finny tribe 
will suffice. At the head of which we place his Ex- 
cellency our worthy ex-Governor. And after the 
name of " Fish," we may mention Whale, Sturgeon, 
Bass, Salmon, Shad, Trout, Pike, Eels, and Crabbe. 
But appellation has little to do with character, for 
to be Dove by name and Shark by nature would 
hardly eifford a sufficient cause for excessive congra- 
tulation. We hope that every man by his good 
deeds will give himself a name, of which his posterity 
shall never be ashamed. 

BRIGHT SPOTS. 

Having called the reader's attention to many 
things of a forbidding aspect, we ought to notice a 
few more of the bright spots which go to make up 
the checkered scene of city life. For, although we 
sigh for a reformation in many departments, and 
need a little more room for our elbows — pure air for 
our lungs — good exercise for our muscles, and green 
spots for our eyes ; yet we have, as I have already 
intimated many comforts and privileges which are 
not to be despised. 

Now, if we should enumerate one half of these 
advantages, the reader would either call the book a 
paradox or pronounce our advice to country citizens, 
all a hoax. 

But it will be remembered that at the outset we 



182 BRIGHT SPOTS. 



acknowledged the web of city life to be woven of 
many colors, as well as of different textures, and 
patterns ; and hence, both good and evil must ever 
abound, while hardly a glimpse of the former or the 
latter will be expected in such a brief notice of 
" city sights." 

Among other things, a man can have the most 
splendid church, and eloquent preacher — the shrewd- 
est lawjTT, and sagest doctor— the finest house, and 
the softest bed ; the swiftest horse, and fattest goose, 
and much more than these can he have, if his purse 
is large enough, and full enough. 

Yes, a man in the city has many superior advan- 
tages both for gratifying and improving his mind. 
The numerous Lectures on various practical and 
important subjects ; especially during the seasons of 
autumn and winter, are items in the catalogue of 
no trifling consideration. 

The legions o^ periodicals, which abound in useful 
hints, and even come within the reach of the poor, 
are never to be forgotten. They are better than 
gold. 

Moreover, the musical concerts, upon which the 
multitude are more and more prone to feast, are far 
better for the heavy-hearted hypochondriac, than 
snake-root or lobelia. 



AMUSEMENTS. 

The places of amusement in the city are numer- 
ous, and many of them profitable. We have just 
hinted at some of them, and we have before spoken 
of the importance of recreation. I shall not be ex- 
pected to notice many of these places. Of some, we 
may say that the influence is doubtful. Of many, 
that it is good ; and of others, that it is decidedly 
had! 

THEATRES. 

Of these places of resort we have several in the 
city, but as to what has been seen there, the reader 
is probably as wise already as the writer, inasmuch 
as he has never seen the inside of one. 

He has, however, seen enough outside to satisfy 
him that he had better go down to his grave in his 
present ignorance, than to be enlightened by the 
performances within. 

A few things in connection with theatres, he ha6 
seen, which have satisfied him from his youth up, 
that these places can very well be dispensed with. 
But I need not name them. 

IMoreover, there are some things which I have 720^ 
seen, which perhaps go to strengthen and confirm 
the opinion which I have for more than a score of 
years entertained. I never saw a town appear to 
flourish any the better for a theatre. Neither could I 



184 AMUSEMENTS. 



ever perceive that the citizens where these places 
of amusement were multiplied, improved the more 
in morals, manners, vigor of body, mind, or soul. 

I never knew a merchant who required his clerks 
to be punctually in the " Box'' every night, in order 
to learn how to sell goods, post books, and save 
money. 

But I have known more than one who watched 
his young men with a jealous eye, as soon as he 
ascertained that a dollar went every night for 
" tickets.'' Every shrewd business man understands 
full well the tendency of a theatrical influence. 
Notwithstanding he may set an unwise example, 
respecting it. I never saw a doctor, lawyer, or an 
artist who required his student, or a mechanic his 
apprentice, or a teacher his pupil, to attend the 
theatre. Hence, we may reasonably conclude that 
there is nothing indispensible there. If there was no 
evil attending it but the loss of time and money, we 
might consent to have such as can afford it, go and 
enjoy it. 

But there are other evils, and as the warmest 
advocates for theatres know it well themselves, I 
need not enlarge. Many frequent these places who 
never read a daily paper except to see what is to be 
the next play, or for some similar information, nor 
pay for it, if they do. And many attend who are 
short of bread, and can't pay their debts. 

AMERICAN MUSEUM. 

But there are sources of more rational entertain- 
ment than the temples of the drama can afford, 



AMUSEMENTS. 185 



among which may be noticed the American Museum. 
This establishment was founded in 1810, but it has 
acquired its popularity mainly through the enter- 
prise of its present proprietor, P. T. Barnum, Esq., 
who purchased it in 1842. 

Many hours may be spent here with profit and 
pleasure, both in the study of natural history, and in 
the examination of works of art, and curiosities 
without end. This establishment has swallow^ed up 
" Peale's Museum," and the " Chinese Museum," and 
is still sufficiently voracious to devour almost every 
choice bit in market ! But it has somehow made its 
most substantial repast out of the little General. 
Yet the American Museum is really a curiosity 
without Tom Thumb or even Barnum, the greatest 
curiosity of all. A splendid lecture room is connected 
with the establishment, where a variety of entertain- 
ments are given. 

AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 

This Institution, which is much more than a source 
of amusement, can be visited with great profit and 
delight ; especially during its annual exhibition, or 
fair, which occurs in October, and continues about 
three weeks. Strangers in coming to town at that 
season of the j^ear will hardly fail to go and see for 
themselves. 

It would afford me great satisfaction to give the 
reader a glimpse of what I saw at the twenty-third 
or last Annual Fair of this Institution. But this is 
not an easy task. One glance at the articles from 



186 



AMUSEMENTS. 



the gallery would have been worth more to the 
reader than all the writer can say. 

But, it may be said, that it is the writer's profes- 
sion to tell what he saw, and in so important a place 
he should not be delinquent. Ah ! yes, he has 
undertaken to do, see, and say, a little too much. 

But if you will visit the next annual fair, and 
should the arrangements be what they were at the 
last, after pressing your way through a congregation 
of apple-peddlers, candy-eaters, nut-crackers, and 
cake- venders, huddled together around the gate, j-ou 
will enter upon the bridge which leads to " Castle 
Garden," and the first thing that will attract your 
attention, will probably be a huge specimen of pure 
virgin copper from the Minnesota Mines, weighing 
3,304 lbs. being a part of a mass of 35 tons which 
was thrown down by a single blast, the past season, 
and which would be worth in market $13,000. 

Then, Mr. Meneely of West Troy, who is famous for 
calling people to church, as if to show the importance 
of the metal, made a display of his " Peal of Bells," 
some of them weighing 3,252 lbs. 

Next in order, came the pumps and ploughs, fan- 
ning-mills and flouring-mills, straw-cutters and 
stone-cutters, grindstones and engines, churn-dashers, 
and wheat-smutters, wicker-work, and water- works, 
and a variety of farming implements which none but 
a farmer knows how to use. 

After passing over the bridge and entering the vast 
amphitheatre, one is at once struck with wonder and 
delight. The beauty, variety, and utility of the 
articles which seem to start up before the dazzled 



AMUSEMENTS. 187 



eye, as if by magic, upon examination fill the mind 
with admiration. Every man has done his best, and 
many a woman too, for the contributions from the 
fair sex honor this important institution not a little. 
Of course we do not pretend that it was equal in 
many respects to the " World's Fair." But it was 
a display, of which every American had reason to 
be proud. 

As this exhibition came off soon after the Swedish 
Nightingale alighted on our shores, there was of 
course " Jenny Lind Riding Habits," and " Jenny Lind 
Castles," and " Jenny Lind Bird-Cages," and " Jenny 
Lind Sauce," and Jenny every thing, but Jenny 
herself The unrivalled bird I did not see, though 
she was there. 

About the centre of the building, a small specimen, 
not very small either, of California fashions attracted 
my attention. " Hands off!" Yes, I should think so. 
What now ? These articles appear to have been made 
for some adventurer who is probably waiting for his 
legs to grow longer, and whenever they shall have 
acquired length enough and strength enough to wear 
and carry the boots, look out for the gold dust in the 
deepest holes in the Sacramento. 

" O my ! did you ever ? don't it beat all — what will 
they do next ? Here was something that looked like 
a common box, and smaller than our old chest, and 
all of a sudden, out jumped a full grown bed. Well, 
well, if this isn't the greatest contrivance yet," said a 
motherly-looking old lady, to her friend. 

And sure enough the improvements in beds, bed- 
steads, sofa-beds, bureau- bedsteads, &c., were so 52:reat 



188 AMUSEMENTS. 



that it occurred to me that only one thing was lack- 
ing in that department — that a bedstead so constructed 
as to fold itself up at a proper hour, though it very 
considerably pinched the sleeper, would be a capital 
remedy for those who turn night into day and day 
into night. 

But to attempt to give a description of a one- 
hundredth part of the beautiful and useful articles 
there exhibited, would be folly. As each article had 
the manufacturer's address attached, it gave every 
visitor an opportunity to obtain from the proprietor 
such specimens of his handicraft, as his own fancy or 
interest dictated. 

Suffice it to say, there was cloth for the naked, and 
food for the hungry — drugs for the sick, and beds for 
the sleepy — eyes for the blind, and legs for the lame — 
locks for the bankers, and lancets for the doctors — 
caps for the ladies, and candy for the babies. 

Yes, boot-jacks and banjos, bed-quilts and bee- 
hives, shovels and shoulder-braces, handkerchiefs and 
hand- organs, crook-necks and corn-shellers, window- 
blinds and water-wheels, tea-pots and telescopes, to 
say nothing about fruits and flowers, pianos and per- 
formers, orators aniofRcers. Hence we have come to 
the conclusion that this place will afford a sufficient 
amount of amusement for any one reasonably satis- 
fied. 

The object of this institution is not to accumulate 
money, but to encourage manufacturers, artists, agri- 
culturists, horticulturists, inventors, &c., to excel in 
their several callings ; which is a praiseworthy 
motive. For the last Annual Report and much 



AMUSEMENTS. 189 



interesting information, the writer is greatly indebt- 
ed to General Adoniram Chandler, Superintending 
Agent. 

The present number of members is 1500. The 
initiation fee is $5. Annual subscription, $2. The 
number of contributors at the last fair, was 2,600. 
Number of visitors, about 300,000. Amount col- 
lected was $22,000. Each member is entitled to 
a free ticket for himself and family. He also has 
free access to an excellent library of 7,000 volumes, 
the use of a pleasant reading-room, &c. 

Contributors always have access to the Fair free of 
expense, and the advantage they derive from a public 
exhibition of their specimens of handicraft, is often 
very great. One man at the last exhibition, as I 
was informed by General Chandler, received o.rders 
for machinery to the amount of 810,000 ; sales in this 
way are increasing every year, and valuable articles 
thus find their way to the ends of the earth. 

Premiums in 1850 were as follows: — Gold medals, 
92 ; silver cups, 85; silver medals, 326. Diplomas, 
510 ; volumes of books, 136, and cash, 8480. 

AMERICAN ART UNION. 

The New York Gallery of the " Fine Arts," the 
" National Academy of Design," and other similar 
establishments, present many attractions not only to 
the stranger, but to all lovers of fine specimens of 
art, causing them to daily linger in their inviting 
Halls. But on the present occasion I shall notice in 
particular, only the " American Art Union," and for 



190 AMUSEMENTS. 



Statistics I am indebted to the very able Correspond- 
ing Secretary, Andrew Warner, Esq. • • 

This Institution " For the promotion of the Fine 
Arts in the United States,'^ was incorporated in 1840. 
" Its first distribution of Works of Art was in 1839, 
when its members numbered 814, and the Works of 
Art distributed amounted to 39. Its annual income 
has increased from $3,500 to $96,000 ; and the Works 
of Art annually distributed by the Institution have 
increased from seven, costing about $2,000 to one 
thousand and ten, costing about $74,000. 

" Since its establishment, ten j^ears since, the 
American Art Union has purchased and allotted 
among its members, over 3,000 Works of Art, execu- 
ted by about 250 artists, resident in the different 
States and Territories of the Union, and by American 
Artists, resident in Rome, Florence, Dusseldorf, 
Munich, Paris, London, and elsewhere. 

" Engravings, etchings, and outlines exceeding 
half a million in number, have been circulated in 
the operations of the Institution, throughout our own 
and other lands." 

" Citizens and strangers have free access to its two 
large galleries, which cover an area of 5,400 square 
feet, and are filled with choice paintings and other 
works of art," and in which probably half a million 
of visitors annually spend a pleasant and profitable 
hour. 

The annual subscription is $5. The Works of 
Art which every member is sure to receive, would 
cost him under other circumstances much more than 
this amount. Each member receives a copy of the 



AMUSEMENTS. 191 



" Illustrated Monthly Bulletin," published by the insti- 
tution, containing a large amount of valuable reading 
matter, and beautiful engravings. This would cost 
about the amount of the subscription, if obtained 
elsevirhere. Moreover, each member is entitled to 
share in the distribution of a large number of paint- 
ings and other w^orks of art. 

But this last feature is the only objectionable 
one, in the minds of some, who have called it little 
better than a lottery office, on account of the an- 
nual distribution of certain valuable paintings, by 
casting lots. 

Whether some better mode of distributing these 
paintings, or their value, could be adopted, I do not 
pretend to say. But I do say that I can perceive al- 
most no similarity between the two establishments. 
Where is there a lottery-office which renders to the 
purchasers of tickets an equivalent for his money ? 
Where is the vender of lottery tickets who does 
any good in the world by his traffic — who encourages 
the purchaser to observe habits of industry, and eco- 
nomy ? Alas ! he encourages the very opposite 
course, and flatters the victim to hope for great re- 
wards with no toil. 

The Art-Union does no such thing, but encou- 
rages the artist to do his very best, and persevere to 
the end, and such as do not, will have little to ex- 
pect. And such as become members of the institu- 
tion, hoping to obtain some of its valuable works, at 
a very trifling expense, if they are disappointed in 
this particular, they benefit the artist just as much, 



192 AMUSEMENTS. 



and still receive the worth of their money, which 
cannot fail. 

In this undertaking, the members of the Art-Union 
encourage a class of artists who need a helping hand, 
and in a pleasant and profitable manner (profitable 
to both parties) help them up the ladder, at least one 
round every year, and also add to the common stock 
of comforts, for fine pictures are more than a com- 
fort to any man who is not too stupid to enjoy a ride 
all the better for having a beautiful span of horses 
attached to his carriage. The works of art make the 
journey of life the more agreeable, and perhaps I 
may add the more safe. 

I have called the attention of the reader to the 
American Art-Union, because, among other things, it 
has reached a point of great influence, and, from its 
large number of subscribers, is able to do much bet- 
ter by each member than it could have done when 
the list of its supporters was small ; and the benefits 
will thus increase, as the subscribers are multiplied. 
The present number of members is 16,310. Commu- 
nications should be addressed to Andrew Warner, 
Esq., Corresponding Secretary, 497 Broadway. 

But the stranger or the citizen, in seeking for en- 
tertainment, will not be confined to the halls of 
amusements. The institution for the Blind, the Deaf 
Mute, the Orphan, the Friendless, and other kindred 
Asylums, of which I have spoken on another page, 
gratuitously admit all who wish to visit them, and 
we pity the man who can go through these retreats 
for the afflicted without being abundantly paid for 



AMUSEMENTS 193 



his trouble. And if he does not desire to go the se- 
cond time, we fear that he is a little deficient. 

Neither will the lover of novelty stop here. The 
beautiful specimens of architecture — the splendid pa- 
laces of Upper-Tendom — the lofty spires of the sacred 
temples — " the perfect symmetry of theCustom-House 
— the massive grandeur of the Merchants' Ex- 
change" — the beautiful Parks and Fountains^ — the 
forests of shipping — the cargoes of goods, wares and 
merchandize — the handicraft of mechanics, and the 
pitiful tale of the beggar, will all more or less attract 
his attention, as they present an extensive field for 
observation, reflection and action. 

" The upper portion of the Island furnishes a field 
for many pleasing excursions. The villages of Har- 
lem, Bloomingdale and Manhattan ville, the Croton 
Reservoirs, and the lofty aqueduct bridge are often 
visited. Nor is either river crossed in vain. 

" The shores of New Jerse}^ present the villages of 
Fort Lee, Weehawken and Hoboken ; the first dis- 
tinguished for that exhibition of nature's grandeur, 
* the palisades ;' the last for its ' Sybil's Cave' and 
*Elysian Fields;' while to the south, rise the spires 
of Jersey city and the hills of Bergen. 

" Brooklyn and Williamsburg, with the numerous 
villages of Long Island, a-re not wanting in interest. 
The heights of Brooklyn, and its shady streets, are the 
scene of many a pleasing ramble ; and the Navy 
Yard, with its valuable Lyceum, the improvements 
of the Atlantic Dock Company, and Cemeteries of 
Greenwood and Cypress Hills, add to the attractions 
of its vicinity. 



13 



194 AMUSEMENTS. 



"But those who take delight in excursions upon the 
water, seeii the picturesque villages of Staten Island, 
and the bathing resorts of Coney Island," especially 
during the summer season, " or visit the fortifications 
of the harbor, never clo3^ed with beauties continually 
opening to their view, as they glide along the bosom 
of the magnificent bay, whose waters, under a bril- 
liant sun, have been compared, by a European trav- 
eller, to * waves of liquid gold.' " 

" In fine, whether the stranger wander along the 
docks, or perambulate the streets ; whether he attend 
the tribunals of justice, or visit the inmates of 
* The Tombs ;' whether he inspect the interior ar- 
rangements of the Gas-works, or stand enchanted 
before the gushing waters of the fountains ; whether 
he stroll through the public promenades, or view 
from the Battery the expansive bay with its pictu- 
resque shores and islands ; he cannot fail to discover 
objects that fill him with wonder and delight." — 
{New-York : Past, Present, and Future, p. 136.) 



WASHINGTON MARKET. 

Although this establishment will hardly come un- 
der the head of amusements, yet we think the reader, 
if unaccustomed to visit large markets, could hardly 
be more amused than to spend two or three hours at 
this place during the morning, and especially on Sa- 
turday. 

This great depot of all manner of edibles, from 
whence so many thousands are fed, is a curiosity to 
all. As far as the building itself is concerned, it is a 
disgrace to the city, and is as uncomfortable, incon- 
venient and ill-adapted to the purposes for which it 
was, and is set apart, as has often been exhibited in 
town, since the day that the Van Dykes, and Van 
Tuyls, Van Schoicks and Van Warts, Van Benscho- 
tens and Van Arsdales, Onderdonks, Oothouses, and 
Knickerbockers first set foot on Manhattan Island. 

One would suppose that the old barracks were 
kept in existence to humble the pride of our inhabi- 
tants, and to cause the citizens to eat mud. Espe- 
cially will it strengthen this impression to visit it on 
a rainy day, when the old riddle of a roof gives all 
within such a sprinkling and spattering, that the 
Clerk of the Market recently informed the writer, that 
in a hard rain, he had frequently gone outside to 
take shelter under an awning ! 

The edibles which, are daily sold at this market are 



196 WASHINGTON MARKET. 

a credit to our country. In this department we have 
no fault to find. 

The number of stalls or stands, amount to 812, 
and the rent for all, is about 8100 per day. The 
amount of businoss done is enormous ; but it is im- 
possible to tell how much. We could not get the 
clerk to venture a "guess." Some say fifteen, some 
say twenty millions of dollars annual}}^ some say 
more, some sa}- less, nobody knows. But it is by 
no means all done at these 312 stands. 

There is an immense amount of produce of every 
description sold outside, from boats lying at the 
docks, from carts, farmers' wagons, baskets, benches, 
boxes, &c., and the countless loads which are carted 
away from the market dail}^ would almost constrain 
an inexperienced spectator to come to the conclusion 
that the inhabitants of this well fed city were living 
to eat. 

But the reader will bear in mind that we are not 
quite so gluttonous after all ; for the surrounding 
towns, cities and countries — inhabitants b}^ land and 
sea, are more or less fed from this table. 

And such a clattering of cleavers, and clashing of 
knives, and grating of saws, and cracking of bones; 
such hustling of women and bustling of men, and 
cramming of baskets, and loading of carts ; such 
scowling and scolding, and bantering and buying can 
hardly be found any where else. 

As iov fruit, there is no lack at the proper season. 
Apples, and pears, peaches and plums, grapes, ber- 
ries, melons, &c., are so displayed in their day, that 



WASHINGTON MARKET. 197 

it is somewhat difficult to go through the market 
with a solvent pocket and a dry mouth. 

Vegetables, are almost without end. The only dif- 
ficulty in being suited in this department, is want of 
freshness in certain varieties. But with this excep- 
tion, whenever the surrounding country produces 
any thing choice in this line, it is sure to be found at 
this market, upon which every other market in town 
is more or less dependent, and many out of town look 
this way for their daily supplies. 

If we ascend a little higher in the scale of organ- 
ization to see what we can find in the animal king- 
dom, we discover here no lack, for there is pork for 
the Gentile, and beef for the Jew, game for the epi- 
cure, KXidfish for the Pope. Hence, all may be sup- 
plied with every kind of animal and vegetable food, 
desirable. 

Not only so, but the skill and tact which are 
brought into requisition to induce all to have their 
baskets well filled, also claim one's attention. 

The Hucksters are eloquent in proclaiming the 
virtues of pumpkins and pennyroyal. 

The Butchers, with their clean aprons and rosy 
faces (where's Graham)., all have the very best cut 
of beef, leg of mutton, and slice of steak. 

The Poulterer extols his turkies, magnifies his 
geese, lauds his ducks, commends his chickens, dis- 
plays his game, and boasts of the freshest, fattest, 
cheapest. 

The Fishmonger makes a tempting exhibition of 
the finny tribe, which are still wide awake, flapping 
their tails on his slippery stand, and so of course as 



198 WASHINGTON MARKET. 

long as one stirs, he can vouch for their being per- 
fectly fresh, even those which were out of salt water 
a week ago ; and at a moment's notice a customer 
can be supplied with the best which the market af- 
fords, even to a batch of eels, well skinned, or the 
fattest shad, well scaled. 

The Oystervender shows more activity than all. 
Like the police officers who, with club in hand ac- 
companied the WTiter on a certain excursion, knock- 
ing and opening as they went, without waiting long 
for an answer, so he walks in, whether welcome or 
not, and turns out the occupant, giving him another 
shell, though not half so good as the original. 

But, I am aware that the reader is in a fair way to 
get a very imperfect idea of Washington Market. 
Well, let him imagine himself standing in the midst of 
a grove where, on the trunks of the trees all through 
the forest, are hanging quarters of beef, and sides of 
pork, and legs of mutton, and loins of veal, and sad- 
dles of venison, and flocks of turkies, geese, ducks, 
chickens, pigeons, quails, &c., and let there be on the 
branches both fruit and flowers, and on the ground 
all sorts and sizes of boxes, baskets, tubs, barrels, &c., 
filled with all kinds of vegetables imaginable, toge- 
ther with a drenching rain, and thousands of buyers 
and sellers, and he will have a feeble representation 
of W^ashington Market. 

But it has become so fashionable to have a meat- 
shop on almost every corner, and fruits and vegeta- 
bles in almost every grocery, and fish and oysters 
well nigh swimming through the streets, that our 
large markets are to some extent forsaken. People 



WASHINGTON MARKET. 199 

find it very convenient to step out of their houses 
slipshod into an adjoining meat-stall, and step back 
again, almost at the same breath, to find the steaks 
all ready to leave the gridirons. At the present day, 
New-Yorkers hardly have time to carve, or chew, or 
swallow, much less to go far to market. 

But this is not all. After stall-feeding his flies, 
the butcher finds it very convenient to send them 
into our parlors to roost. This, however, we will 
agree to sabmit to, if he will go a little farther from 
our drawing-rooms to shed innocent blood — stain 
the streets and gutters a little less, and be a little 
more liberal in t'he use of chloride of lime. 



NOVELTY WORKS. 

This grand establishment, the largest of the kind 
in the United States, is now too well known to many 
to be any longer a novelty, but it is nevertheless a 
curiosity that almost any one, who has not already, 
can afford to examine at the expense of a day's time, 
a few hours' ride, and a little passage money. 

I called upon the gentlemanly proprietors, Messrs. 
Stillman, Allen & Co., a few months since, and 
after telling them that I had simply come to " 5ee," I 
was very soon ashamed that I had so long remained 
ignorant of such an exciting scene, and such an 
interesting spectacle as was at once exhibited 
throughout the vast extent of their manufacturing 
establishment. 

It will be impossible for me to give the inexpe- 
rienced reader an adequate idea of the articles here 
made, as respects their variety, quality, quantity, 
utility, &c. To say that they excel in the manufac- 
ture of almost everything which may be called steam 
machinery, for ships, would be to say but a little, 
though saying a good deal. And to say, that they 
make everything that can be thought of, from a giant 
engine to a dwarfish rattle-box, would perhaps be con- 
sidered a little extravagant, but would be about as 
near the truth as I can get it; at least as much so 



NOVELTY WORKS. 201 

as can be said of any establishment on this side of 
the water. 

But my time for examining these works was so 
limited, and the number of articles worthy of special 
attention was so great, that I can hardly tell the 
reader what I did see ; yet to my own mind I can 
present a tolerably satisfactory illustration of the 
embarrassment under which I then labored, and do 
still. 

Suppose yourself trying to examine the individual 
straws of a wheat-field while whired along over the 
ground as fast as the best fed " iron horse" can carry 
you, and you will have a pretty good idea of the 
difficulty of giving details from half a day's exami- 
nation of such an immense concern. Hence, gene- 
ralities m.ust now take the place of specialities. 

The offices and counting-rooms, the machine shops 
and pattern rooms, the furnaces and foundries, the 
busy bustle in-door and out, all gave evidence of a 
manufactory on a grand scale. There was to be 
seen, before entering the buildings, the dark and 
curling smoke as it issued and rolled up from the 
tops of the chimnies in fantastic hieroglyphics, 
bespeaking something more important left behind. 

Within, there was the puffing of steam, and the 
flashing of fires — roaring of furnaces, and buzzing 
of lathes — thundering of hammers, and rattling of 
wheels — clicking of time-pieces, and grating of screw- 
cutters, creaking of files, and clattering of chisels, 
punches, dies, drills, tongs, rivets, and sledges; while 
a multitude of implements were every where visible 
of which I neither knew the name or use. 



202 NOVELTY WORKS. 



Then there was the swinging to and fro of ponder- 
ous cranes, carrying off with perfect ease to some 
place of deposit, articles of such weight as would 
puzzle a thousand monsters to budge them an inch, 
with naked hands. 

There was also the mammoth shaft of many tons 
weight, whirling upon pivots, as if it were but a 
feather, and with as much apparent ease as did the 
spindle in another lathe, although small enough for 
a tooth-picl:. 

The proprietors kindly furnished me with some 
brief statistics and interesting items, which I am 
happy to lay before my readers. 

The " Novelty Works" have now been in opera- 
tion twenty years. The number of men emplo5^ed, 
is about 1,200, at an average of about $1,25 per day, 
that is, including common laborers and apprentices. 
The men are temperate and industrious, and make a 
comfortable living, while some of them la-y by more 
or less for " a rainy dsy^ The common laborers 
are mostly foreigners, and the mechanics, about one- 
quarter. 

The ground occupied by this company embraces 
about 210,000 square feet, being equal to eighty city 
lots or nearly five acres, besides their slips for ship- 
ping, &c. The amount of metal used annually, is 
about 5,500 tons. The value of coal consumed is 
about $20,000. Daily expenses, .$2,500. Smallest 
castings, one ounce ; largest, forty tons. All the 
machinery is driven by a 100 horse-power engine. 

The beautiful steam-ship Arctic of the New York 
and Liverpool line which was built last season, had 



NOVELTi WORKS. 203 



all her machinery made here. The time occupied in 
completing said machinery was twelve months, and 
the expense was $275,000. For the above interest- 
ing information, the reader can order a rattle-box, or 
an engine as one or both are wanted in every town, 
and almost every house. He will be sure of the best 
pattern, and the greatest novelty. 

The largest castings made by this company are 
" bed-pieces^^ for steam-ships. Upon these bed-pieces 
the engine, boilers, and all the machinery rest. And 
to see the liquid metal poured out for one of these 
mammoth castings, reminds one of the best days of 
old Vesuvius. It is a sight worth seeing. At any 
rate, the writer walked the distance of a mile five 
times — namelj^, ten miles, to witness it, and thought 
it cheap at that. When speaking of amusements, 
we might with great propriety have placed this esta- 
blishment under that head. But as it is much more 
than a place of amusement, and no museum has j'et 
equalled it (what Barnum mai/ do, I know not), I 
thought proper to give it a more important place. 

But I must say a word about casting these bed- 
pieces. It is not the work of a day, although iron 
may be melted in half the time, even enough to sink 
a ship. 

The most difficult and tedious part is of course to 
prepare the mould. This requires the labor of about 
forty men, something like six weeks. While the last 
day or two, the services of one hundred men are put 
in requisition. 

The first step taken in moulding is, to excavate the 
earth within the foundry, deep enough and large 



204 NOVELTY WORKS. 

enough for an ordinary cciiar, thougri I know not 
the dimensions. Then piece by pi^ce is added until 
the size and shape of the mould required are 
attained (and it is by no means as fiat and uniform 
in shape as an ordinary hearth stone, nor as easily 
moulded), and all so put together as to secure 
strength enough to withstand an immense pressure. 
When this is completed, the several furnaces are put 
in full blast and the iron is melted in five hours. In 
the mean time a large cast iron reservoir which is 
lined with, clay, having an outlet at the bottom, 
though temporarily closed, is in readiness. 

This reservoir stands within six or eight feet of 
the mould, and leading to and communicating with 
both the former and the latter, is a trough through 
which the molten metal flows into the mould, when 
it is discharged through the opening in the reservoir. 
The melted iron is carried from the furnaces in 
ladles and poured into the reservoir, to fill which, it 
takes four or five hours after the iron is ready to 
flow from the furnaces, and makes the men sweat 
not a little ; and, during all this time, its fluidity is 
apparently unchanged. 

When all is ready, the gate is hoisted, and the 
molten stream of burning metal gushes forth, and 
the brilliant scintillations, glowing flood, sparkling- 
waves, whistling gas, as it rushes up through the 
vent-holes in the top of the mould, and flashing 
corruscations, present a scene of exciting interest 
quite worthy of the artist's laboratory, and satisfac- 
tory to the ladies and gentlemen who are fortunate 
enough to witness it. 



NOVELTY WORKS. 205 



But, I had the pleasure of being present on a still 
more interesting occasion than the one just noticed, 
at least in some respects I was more pleased. Per- 
haps the reader would not go ten miles to witness it, 
nor read ten lies to know all about it. 

Well, while standing in the midst of busy mortals 
to see every man do his best, the bell rang for dinner, 
and it seemed as though every man heard the first 
clink before it struck — and didn't the}^ run ? If a man 
had his hammer lifted to strike another blow, he 
didn't strike it ; he let it fall, no matter w^here, if it 
cleared his own head, and ran ; and all ran. some one 
way and some another, and I had nothing to do but 
to clear the track the best way I could, and enjoy the 
scene to my heart's content, for I could see roast beef, 
mutton chop, boiled ham, apple dumplings, and sour 
krout on their faces as they ran. 

Now to see such a rush of such a regiment of men, 
with twelve hundred happy, contented-looking faces, 
is a sight not chronicled every day in Gotham. To 
me it was an interesting occasion. Not because the 
men were hungry, but because every man had earned 
his dinner, had wherewith to satisfy his appetite, 
and felt that he had a right to it. And when I re- 
flected that this single establishment gave business 
and support — an honest living-»-not onl^^ to twelve 
hundred men, but that probably at least twelve thou- 
sand individuals were reaping more or less benefit 
from its prosperous operations, I could not help say- 
ing to myself, these works are a blessing to our city, 
and an honor to our nation. 

,We have other similar establishments, though not 



206 ATLANTIC FORGE. 



SO large, one of which I have visited and design to 
notice, but would prefer to first look about a little 
more in this immediate neighborhood ; and although 
the eye is never satisfied with seeing, yet it must be 
indulged to a limited extent, and so I will accompany 
the reader to the 



Here are manufactured immense wrought iron 
shafts for steamboat water-wheels, and other pur- 
poses, but as the proprietor, Mr. Charles F. Tupper, 
is confined to this particular branch, he of course 
does not require the services of such a regiment of 
men as w^e last noticed. I did not see the proprietor, 
but was informed by the foreman that about fifty 
men were employed. 

While waiting for the iron to get hot, I scanned 
the old "Falcon" (as they call their trip-hammer) a 
little, but I preferred keeping my fingers at a respect- 
able distance from its bill, and especially after I was 
informed that it weighed nine tons ! 

Perhaps the reader may not know how they make 
these monster shafts, some of which I am informed 
weigh twenty tons. 

Well, they take eight or ten small bars and fas- 
ten them together and then weld them into one solid 
bar. Then they take a sufficient number of these, 
for the size required, and fasten them together as be- 
fore ; and to heat them they are run into a horizontal 
cylindrical furnace, which is open to permit the shaft 
to pass through as far as it is necessary from time to 
time, as they weld the rods together. 



BROWN STONE-CU'i'TERS. 207 



When the iron is properly adjusted, the ends of 
the furnace are temporarily tilled up with brick and 
mortar around the shaft, much of which remains 
outside. It is then subjected to an intense heat for 
about one hour and a half; and when the welding 
point is reached, it is wheeled out with perfect ease, 
by means of a powerful crane and puliies, and placed 
under the bill of the old " Falcon," where it gets a 
pretty good pelting ; and thus these several bars, 
which have previously been made of other several 
bars, are forced together into one solid piece, about 
as easy as you could squeeze two rolls of butter into 
one. 

BROWN STONE-CUTTERS. 

In the immediate neighborhood is a large lot unoc- 
cupied except by stone and stone-cutters. I halted a 
moment as I was passing, to see a workman whittle 
away at a stone which lay near the sidewalk. I was 
not at all aware of the extent of the work which 
was done on the lot. The stone on which the man 
was at work was a brovvm, or what is frequently 
called red stone, a block eight or ten feet long, and 
perhaps ten or twelve inches square. The artist had 
so dressed it off as to leave large block letters stand- 
ing out in bold relief for a sign. " You seem to have 
a large establishment here, sir," said I, to the man. 

" Yes, sir ; one of the largest in the city," said he. 

" Who are the proprietors ?" 

" Masterton & Smith, sir." 

" Where is their office ?" 

"Over there where you see that little wooden 



208 SKOE-SHOP. 



building on Eleventh street. You will find them 
both there, sir." 

Not willing to lose so good an opportunity of ob- 
taining a little more information, though unexpect- 
edly presented, I made my w^ay across the lot through 
a wilderness of stone ; and clickerty-click, clickerty- 
click went the mallets and the chissels, while the 
chips fell like hailstones in a tornado, and ever}^ man 
looked contented, happy, and as well fed as an alder- 
man, and fancied himself as well off, I suppose. 

At the office I learned that the establishment had 
been in successful operation since the year 1818 — 
that they were employing 101 men at an average of 
about two dollars per day. This too, it will be re- 
membered, was in the winter. Their men were so- 
ber and industrious, much more so than formerly. 
This establishment turns out annually about ^100,000 
worth of stone. 

SHOE-SHOP. 

Soon after leaving the stone-cutters, I came to a 
somewhat difi^erent manufactory. But as it was sit- 
uated in the same neighborhood with the last three 
noticed above, perhaps I shall be excused for giving 
a few details concerning it, and especially as the 
writer was so much interested in its first appearance 
that he could not w^ell pass it without at least one 
call, I thought it a little strange that, as often as I 
had passed that way, I had not observed it before. 
Perhaps I should have earlier noticed it if I had been 
looking for sights. 

I saw through the window, for it had a window, 



SHOE-SHOP. 209 



a man sitting on a bench hard at work, and near 
enough to the side-walk to almost hit my elbows, 
and as I felt inclined to become a little acquainted 
with my neighbor, I halted. On opening the door, I 
met a very accommodating gentleman who saw that 
I felt inclined to step in, and so he wisely and kindly 
stepped out. I don't mean the shoemaker, for he kept 
slipping in the awl, and drawing through the waxen 
flax, and seemed to feel happy that there was room 
enough for himself and his visitor, by each submit- 
ting to a little friction. 

Well, I did not tell him that I was taking the cen- 
sus of the city, neither did I tell him that I was not. 
But I solicited such information as perhaps made 
him a little suspicious. I took the liberty of asking 
his name, and inquired about his family. 

"They have all left me, sir," said he, "and since 
me auld woman died, things don't go so well. Ah 1 
no ; she used to take good care of me things, and have 
me something warm and good for me dinner, and all 
that. But they are all gone, sir." 

" A sad thing," said I, '* for a man to be alone." 

" It is, indeed, sir. A man is poorly off when he is 
all alone in the world, the best way that you can 
fix it." 

The poor man looked solemn, and appeared lonely, 
and from him I learned that he had occupied his pre- 
sent shop for five years, and that he greatly regret- 
ted that it had recently been marred by a fire which 
occurred near by, which had very considerably 
blackened the outside, and burnt a few holes 
through it. -j^^ 



210 MANUFACTORY OF R. HOE & CO. 

"Before that, I had it all nicely covered inside with 
pictures;' said he. Thanks to the good-hearted fire- 
men for saving this important building, which is sit- 
uated in Eleventh street, not a thousand miles from 
Second Avenue. And having a rule in my pocket 
(for a surveyor must go prepared to measure) I ask- 
ed permission to take the dimensions of his shop, 
which I found to be just six feet, six inches long, four 
feet, two inches wide, six feet high in the rear, and 
about seven feet in front. 

But some may say why take so much pains to no- 
tice such a small concern ? Because this shows 
what New York is, quite as well as does the " Nov- 
elty Works." This is city life. Moreover, the read- 
er is already aware that 1 do not intend to despise 
the day of small things. I have, moreover, made this 
man's place of business known, presuming that some 
of my readers may want a patch on their boots. Let 
the working man be sustained, however humble his 
cabin. 

But I promised to give the reader a word about 
another establishment, similar in character to the 
" Novelty Works," and it is perhaps very proper 
that I should lead him to the spot by the way of the 
slioe shop, lest he might arrive with too exalted ex- 
pectations, for we must not look for the Novelty 
Works on every corner. 

MANUFACTORY OF R. HOE & CO. 

This firm, though not doing so large a business as 
Messrs. Stillman, Allen & Co., are nevertheless 
equally successful and prosperous, and the concern 



MANUFACTORY OF R. HOE & CO. 211 

has been long and favorably known (I think thirty- 
years), and is an honor to the city and the Union. 
They haA^e two separate buildings, at least a mile 
apart, though they are in juxtaposition by means of 
the Telegraph, This story-teller saves many a long 
walk, and when Professor Morse shall have made 
another improvement, so that a ton of coal or iron 
can ride back and forth on the wires, whenever it is 
ordered, they will be satisfied. 

This establishment occupies twenty-five lots, or 
about one acre and a half. A little over three hun- 
dred men are employed, at an average of about one 
dollar and seventy-five cents per day. That is, for 
the mechanics. Two thousand, five hundred tons of 
coal are annually consumed, and fifteen hundred tons 
of iron and steel are worked up into useful implements 
of various descriptions, to the value of $300,000. 
For the above statistics, I am indebted to Mr. Hoe, 
who kindly welcomed me to every part of his esta- 
blishment, and I regretted that I had undertaken to 
see so much for others, that I had little time for 
myself. 

This company greatly excel in the manufacture of 
a large variety of articles, of which I cannot speak. 
Such beautiful specimens of saws are rarely seen 
any where else. But they are too well known, 
almost from- the north to the south pole, to need any 
notice in so humble a volume as this. Their circular 
saws w^ere splendid, beyond anything of the kind 
that I had ever before examined, and were of all 
sizes from two inches to five feet in diameter, the 
largest being worth 8200. 



212 MANUFACTORY OF R. HOE & CO. 

But for presses for rapid printing, they may chal- 
lenge the world ! Think of that, all ye proud sons 
of Uncle Sam ! Yes, challenge the world, old and 
new, civilized and heathen. 

These gentlemen manufacture all the ordinary 
presses to great perfection, such as the " Patent 
Washington Printing Press," " Patent Smith Print- 
ing Press," " Hand Lever Press," " Patent Machine 
Card Press," " Ready Proof Press," together with 
" Self-Inking Machines," &c. &c. 

But the climax of all presses for quick work, is 
the " Cylinder Press,^^ which is the invention of Mr. 
Hoe, and for which he has received a patent, and an 
imperishable name. About so important an inven- 
tion as this, the reader who has never had access to 
such creatures, may wish to know something, and I 
regret that I cannot describe it. Many live within 
the sound of its buzz, and do not take the trouble to 
examine it, and of course do not deserve to know 
anything about it. 

But for another class, I would say, that the type, 
after being set, are placed upon cylinders, as you 
will naturally infer from the name, and these cylin- 
ders rapidly revolve by steam, or other motive power, 
and the sheets of paper pass through as fast as a man 
can place them in a proper position, and receive an 
impression, while the revolving type at each revolu- 
tion receive a supply of ink. This is one of the 
sights ! 

The first successful printing on these presses, was 
done in 1847, and the first press was purchased for 
the " Philadelphia Ledger'^ There are three large 



MANUFACTORY OF R. HOE & CO. 213 

Cylinder Presses in daily use in this city on which 
the New York Sun, Herald, and Tribune are printed, 
and how many smaller presses al similar construc- 
tion are whirling off the sheets, I know not. Mr. 
Hoe informed me that Boston would soon have three 
of these large presses in operation, and ere this, they 
are probably inundating the Bay State with a flood 
of intelligence, for they will not long remain behind 
their neighbors. 

But the reader may say, " What is it to me what 
the Bostonians have, or do ?" 

A good deal to you. If urgent business should 
call you there, from New Jersey or New Hampshire, 
making it necessary that the journey should be per- 
formed in a few hours ; and the facilities for travel- 
ing and other accommodations should be so imper- 
fect that you could not reach that city in less than 
four days, nor get more than three scanty meals on 
the way, nor a mouthful to eat in as many hours 
after entering the town, you would not be long in 
coming to the conclusion that it was something even 
to you, that the inhabitants of neighboring towns 
were so much behind the times. 

And would you famish, or have your neighbors 
remain destitute of intellectual food for hours or 
days, when you and they can be supplied with a real 
feast in Jive minutes ? 

But I have not told you what can be done with 
these presses — these specimens of Yankee ingenuity. 
When I visited the manufactory, Mr. Hoe informed 
me that he had just completed for the enterprising 
proprietors of the " New York Sun," the largest 



214 MANUFACTORY OF R. HOE & CO. 

cylinder press ever made ; and that fifty men were 
employed on it for six months — that it contained 
eight cylinders — cost twenty thousand dollars, and 
was capable of printing twenty thousand copies an 
hour I Since then it has demonstrated the truth of 
the prediction. 

Think of that one moment, and you will not say 
that it is nothing to you. Old " Red Jacket" would 
never say so, if he was alive and as able to read as 
he was the last time that I saw him in the city of 
Buffalo. Neither would old " Corn Planter" intimate 
any such thing to his tribe on the Alleghany. 

Nothing to us ? In a little while it will be much 
to the Hottentot and Esquimaux ! Let us see to 
whom it will not be something. How many are to 
be fed ? At a moderate estimate, at least nine hun- 
dred millions, and man}'- of them pretty hungry. 

Now supposing six individuals to a household, we 
have one hundred and fifty million families to be 
supplied. Well, if we put men enough on this press 
to run it day and night, Sundays excepted, we can 
give every family on the globe, an annual paper from 
this single press, and have two hundred and forty 
thousand copies left to sell at the counter 1 

Think of that ! friends, out there on the Mononga- 
hela among the catamounts ! You havn't begun to 
*' see the Elephant," yet, nor we either ; for when 
Captain Taggart gets his " Flying Machined per- 
fected, with a few more presses, our Lunar neighbors 
can be supplied with a copy of the " Sun" every 
morning. And won't they be enlightened ? 
But I perceive that I have got out of the machine- 



THE PRESS. 215 



shop into the printing office, just where one is apt to 
get now-a-days, who unfortunately has a fund of 
knowledge to communicate, and who fancies, more- 
over, that he has sufficient tact to put decent thoughts 
enough together, to say we ! 

I have incidentally alluded to three of our old and 
successful dailies, namely the New York Sun, Herald, 
and Tribune, and would gladly give such a notice of 
the principal publications in the city, as such diffusi- 
ble stimulants demand. Bat time will not permit, 
neither would an ordinary volume hold all that 
might be said, of interest, about the press. And 
what is still more important, our praises (poor 
things) are not needed. 

But a work of the right stamp, exclusively devoted 
to this important department, setting forth truthful 
statistics — giving a brief history of each successful 
editor, and presenting, in a clear light, the responsi- 
bilit}', toil, influence, trials, and emoluments incident 
to such a profession, together with such other topics 
as would naturally claim a respectful notice, would, 
we think, be quite acceptable to the reading world. 
The very thing, for ought we know, may be now 
extant, but it don't belong to " what I saw in New 
York." 

As I have spoken of a physical, I beg leave to 
briefly notice a moral improvement in the press. 

The reader is aware that there was a time when 
even a religious paper would hardly dare to promul- 
gate and enforce such salutary principles and senti- 
ments as the secular press now every day, and hour, 
boldly announce and defend. 



216 THE PRESS. 



Where do we now find any paper of character or 
importance, which knowingly speaks lightly of our 
holy religion ? True, we have here and there a 
scurrilous sheet thrown upon the breeze. But with 
hearts blacker than the ink they waste, these cloven- 
footed, forked-tongued publishers reveal their true 
character the first step the}^ take, and generally soon 
die a natural death, and have i^w mourners. 

Now, the sermons which we hear in the sanctuary, 
very often find their way to thousands of readers, 
through the morning papers of the succeeding day, 
and perhaps the second edition may do more good 
than thej^r^t In this, we rejoice ; and for this, we 
call upon every American to give thanks. 

Yes, the secular press is more or less consecrated 
to morality and religion, and is daily lending a help- 
ing hand to important movements in Christendom, 
and ceases not to chronicle with fidelity and despatch, 
the formation and prosperity of all religious deno- 
minations. Friends, it was not so thirty years ago I 
Moreover, there never was a time when, on the sub- 
ject of temperance, the press was more sound and 
reliable, than at the present moment. 

Not a paper can be found whose proprietor will 
knowingly and willingly lend his influence to the 
dram-drinking, rum-soaking, toddy-loving communi- 
ty, except those who are ashamed to have their car- 
riers out by day- light. This is an encouragement 
worthy of being remembered, and ought to give the 
temperance car sufficient momentum to drive it 
rapidly over the great field of desolation, leaving in 
its train reformation and salvation. 



NEW- YEARS. 217 



True the two great antagonistic agents, i^um and 
water, have a hard struggle ; yet we hope to see the 
latter drown out and overthrow the former, in due 
time. It is said, that intemperance has of late in- 
creased in the city, and it would not be very strange 
if it had, for does any one suppose that all of those 
two hundred and twelve thousand, seven hundred and 
ninety-six emigrants which landed in our midst 
during the past year, were " Father Mathew" men ? 

If it has increased to some extent, it should not 
discourage, but rather stimulate us to greater acti- 
vity, and zeal according to knowledge. There never 
was a time when a more intelligent view of the evils 
of intemperance, and a more ardent desire, and fixed 
determination to rid our country of its greatest curse, 
occupied the minds and hearts of men, than now. 

But, I have got out of the printing office into a tem- 
perance lecture. Well, I did not intend to say much 
about the press or the cause of temperance, as I had 
nothing new to offer in regard to either, though many 
encouraging things might be said of both. We hope 
that the editorial corps will continue to consecrate 
their talents and energy to the good work, and all 
their patrons co-operate, until we can build our ships 
of iron, our wharfs of brass, and our streets of gold. 
And it will be comparatively easy to substitute brass 
for wood, and gold for stone, by substituting water 
for rum, and common sense for folly. 



But many of our good citizens set a bad example 
at the very beginning of every year, though they do 



218 NEW-YEARS. 



not seem to be sensible of an error so palpably mani- 
fest. Almost the very first step they take, is fatal 
to some poor mortal. 

Perhaps some of my readers maj- hardly know how 
the day is passed in New- York, and it would be ra- 
ther difficult for me to tell. But " New- Years" and 
*' May- day" are different from all other days in the 
j^ear. The peculiarities of the latter having been 
briefly noticed, I will say a word about the former, 
although this is hardly the place to begin the year. 
But never mind, our temperance lecture must be fin- 
ished. 

As things at present exist, it is doubtful whether 
more evil than good is not the result of keeping the 
day according to the good old Dutch custom, which 
has become so general, that nobody dares to raise a 
voice against it. 

"But what is the custom which has thus been in- 
troduced with all the sanction and authority of Hol- 
land ?" perhaps the reader will ask. 

Why, to call on every family that you have ever 
seen, if possible — stay long enough to say "Happy 
New- Year" — taste of all the good things — extol 
what you eat and drink — praise all the babies, and 
say, " good by." 

This privilege belongs exclusively to gentlemen. 
The ladies, however, are permitted to visit each other 
the next day, and wdsh them all the happiness ima- 
ginable, which of course is very acceptable, and if 
they venture to congratulate the gentlemen a little, 
this rudeness is generally tolerated with a very com- 
mendable forbearance. 



NEW-YEARS. 219 



Now we would not in the least object to the festi- 
vities of the day, if the good ladies would keep the 
intoxicating cup out of sight. It cannot be doubted 
that many who have solemnly resoh^ed to reform 
and lead a sober life, do on these very days, and in 
this very way, relapse into hopeless degradation, be- 
cause they have not stamina enough to refuse the 
cup so kindly, nay, so cruelly offered. Hence, in- 
stead of its being the beginning of a Happy New- 
Year to them, it is the death-blow to hope and hap- 
piness — the beginning of woe, and sorrow unutter- 
able. 

Now, we do think that the good people of New- 
York ought to begin the year with a better exam- 
ple. One of the reasons for coming to such a conclu- 
sion is, that we have seen in the streets, on these oc- 
casions, a larger number of men " the worse for the 
wear," than on any other day in the year, not even 
excepting the Fourth of July. 

Let all who desire to promote the welfare of their 
fellow men, and the prosperity of the city, begin and 
end the year with a salutary example, whether it is 
fashionable or not, and we shall find a greater reason 
for commemorating such a day, than the dawn of a 
sidereal year. 

Here, again, I am happy to advert to a timely 
warning, though not sufficiently heeded, which came 
from the press a little before the last old year bade 
us, farewell. Let the press speak until the people's 
ear shall tingle. 

The fact is, we can do better without steam, and 
galvanism, and rum too, than without the press, to 



220 PERIODICALS, &C. 



which we are greatly indebted for many valuable 
hints in the present volume, and wishing them and 
their readers all success, for the benefit of our coun- 
try friends, we will give a tabular view of some of the 
New York periodicals. 

The reader will of course understand that the edi- 
tors of these papers marked neutral in the table, have 
permission to lean a little according to circumstances. 
Occasionally their obliquity may become so great as 
almost to destroy their neutrality. But never mind 
if all the anti-political props fall. Don't stop the 
papers, if their moral character is good, for a man 
often finds out his own bumps, good or bad, better by 
looking into the morning papers an hour before break- 
fast, than by the reflections of his gilded mirror. But 
if not good, let not even their ashes remain on your 
hearth. 

Moreover, it will be recollected that the amount 
for each journal is the price paid in advance. 



PERIODICALS, &c. 



Title. 


Street. 


Period. 


Character 


. Price. 


.New York Sun, 


121 F niton 


Daily 


Neutral 


4 00 


i( <« <£ _ _ 


a a 


vV'eekl^ 


" 


1 00 


" Herald, ■ - 


125 " 


Daily 


«< 


7 00 


(( 4< j< _ _ 


a (C 


Weekly 


<( 


3 00 


New Yorker, 


1 00 Nassau 


Daily 


<« 


4 00 


" ... 


" " 


Weekly 


(< 


1 00 


Morning Star, 


102 " 


Daily 


a 


4 00 


Journal of Commerce, 


91 Wall 


Daily 


(< 


9 00 


" - _ _ 


a a 


Weekly 


t< 


2 00 


New York Tribune, - 


154 Nassau 


Daily 


Whig 


5 00 


" *' 


»' (( 


Weekly 


<« 


2 00 


*' " Express, 


1 


Daily 


«< 


7 00 


a i( <.( , _ 


<< <c 


Weekly 


a 


2 00 


N. Y. Commercial Advertiser, 


46 Pine 


Daily 


" 


10 00 


«' " Spectator, 


a »< 


S'mi W. 


(C 


4 00 


" " Courier & Enquirer, 


70 Wall 


Daiiy 


cc 


10 00 


(( «' " 


70 


Weekly 


C( 


2 00 


« " Evening Post, 


18 Nassau 


Daily 


Democr't 


9 00 


H t£ «' _ . 




Weekly 


u 


1 00 


♦* " Evening Mirror, 


105 " 


Daily 


Whig 


6 00 


(( (C (t 


«' a 


Weekly 


ti 


I 00 


'* " Observer, 


142 Nassau 


" 


Presby'n 


2 50 


" •' Evangelist, - - 


120 " 


" 


cc 


2 00 


Christian Intelligencer, 


103 Fulton 




Dut. Ref. 


2 50 


The Churchman, 


12 John 


t' 


Episcop. 


3 00 


Protestant Churchman, 


(369 B.Way 


<( 


" 


2 50 


New York Recorder, 


122 Nassau 


" 


Baptist 


2 00 


Independent, 


24 Beekm'n 


<( 


Congreg'l 


2 00 


Christian Advocate, 


200 Mulb'y 


<( 


Method't 


1 25 


Golden Rule, - 


44 Ann 


a 


1.0. 0.F. 


2 00 


American Artisan, 


9 Spruce 


<t 




2 00 


" " - - 


«t .< 


Mon'ly 




2 00 


Home Journal, 


107 Fulton 


Weekly 




2 00 


Sabbath Recorder, 


9 Spruce 


'< 


7thD.B't 


2 00 


The Weekly Journal, 


122^ Fult'n 


«< 




1 00 


Sears' Family Visitor, 


151 WiU'm 


" 




2 00 


Farmer & Mechanic, 


122 Nassau 


i( 




2 00 


Railroad Journal, 


136 " 


<♦ 




5 00 


Weekly Review, 


9 Spruce 


it 




1 50 



222 



PERIODICALS, &C. 



Title. 



Scientific American, - 
L'Eoo d'ltalia — Italian, 
Literary World, 
Spirit of the Times, 
Path Finder, 
New York Picayune, - 
Bank Note Reporter, - 
Sunday School Journal, 
Youth's Penny Gazette, 
Journal of Temperance Union, 
Ladies' Repository, 
Child's Companion, 
American Review, 
Harper's Magazine, 
International Magazine, 
American " - - 

Blackwood's Edinburgh Mag. 
Westminster Review, 
EJinburgh " 

The Dollar Magazine, 
American Temperance Mag. 
Christian Parlor " 

Hunt's Merchants' Magazine 
Eclectic " 

Knickerbocker " 

Union " 

Mothers' Magazine, 
Mag. for Mothers & Daughters 
Merry's Museum, 
Jewish Chronicle, 
N. Y. Colonization Journal, 
Journal of Mission, 
Methodist Quarterly Review, 
London " " 

North British « 



Street. 


Period. 


Character. 


Price 


12S Fulton 


Weekly 




2 00 


2S9 B.Way 


'• 




4 00 


109 Nassau 


<i 




3 00 


1 Barclay 


(( 




5 00 


138 Fulton 


(< 




1 50 


122 " 


C( 




1 00 


OrWall 


(C 




2 00 


147 Nassau 


S'm.M. 




25 


le «< 


" 




12^ 


149 •'' 


Mon'ly 




1 00 


200 Mulb'y 


(( 




2 00 


147 Nassau 


t( 




25 


120 " 


'« 




5 00 


82 Cliff 


<c 




3 00 


222 B.Way 


(C 




3 00 


2 Pine 


" 




2 00 


54 Gold 


'< 




3 00 


a (( 


" 




3 00 


(( (C 


<c 




3 00 


109 Nassau 


C( 




1 00 


86 


" 




2 00 


116 ■ " 


it 




2 00 


142 " 


i( 




5 00 


120 " 


It 




5 00 


139 " 


" 




5 00 


156 " 


t< 




3 00 


116 *' 


(< 




1 00 


151 '• 


(( 




I 00 


116 " 


el 




1 00 


151 " 


<' 




1 00 


" " 


a 




50 


150 " 


<c 




25 


200 Mulb'y 


Quar'ly 




2 00 


54 Gold 


<' 




3 00 


<< <4 


" 




3 00 



As light is quite as essential to the reader as 
printed page, it may be proper for me to notice 
of our great artificial fountains of illumination. 



the 
one 



MANHATTAN GAS WORKS. 

This immense establishment which is located in 
18th-street, west of 10th Avenue, will abundantly- 
pay any man who has any taste for useful curiosi- 
ties, for a stroll among the Retorts. At the office, 
he will find the talented and gentlemanly engineer, 
Charles Roome, Esq., ready to explain any thing and 
show every thing. He has no secrets. 

The writer recently visited these Works, and was 
both amused and instructed ; and as some of his 
readers may be nearly as ignorant (I hope not) of 
the modus operandi of gas-making, as was the author 
a few weeks since, it may be proper for him to pre- 
sent a brief outline of the mode of manufacturing 
this important compound. 

The gas is distilled from Bituminous coal, two- 
thirds of which is Cannel, and the balance New- 
Castle coal. Cast iron retorts, semi-circular in shape, 
twenty inches wide, and seven feet long, placed in a 
horizontal position, three in one furnace, and kept at 
a red heat day and night, receive the coal, which is 
thrown in by means of a scoop which holds from 150 
to 200 pounds. • 

As soon as the scoop is withdrawn, the front end 
of the oven-like retort is closed by a lid or door, 
which is then made gas-tight, by means of luting. 
After remaining about four hours, it is considered 
pretty well cooked or cokedj when the charge is said 



224 MANHATTAN GAS WORKS. 

to be worked off, as the gas which is produced after 
the fourth hour, possesses but little illuminating 
power. 

On removing the lid, the coke which remains after 
the gas has escaped, is taken from the retorts and 
used as fuel in the furnaces, while the baker always 
has another batch of bread, though not very light 
nor over white, ready for the oven. 

The vapors contained in the coal, ascend through 
a pipe connected with the retort, and are partially 
condensed by passing through water in a horizontal 
pipe, called the hydraulic main, which is placed 
above the furnaces. In this hydraulic main, a quan- 
tity of tar is separated from the gas by condensa- 
tion, and is conducted to a cistern, and ultimately 
put into barrels and sent to market. 

The gas rises through a pipe on the end of the 
hydraulic main, and is conveyed to and through the 
condensers, which are a series of vertical cast iron 
pipes, from which jets of water are continually 
thrown up, giving the gas a good shower-bath, wash- 
ing down its impurities which flowoff with the water 
in a proper channel. 

After this, the gas again passes through a body of 
water to remove the remaining ammonia. 

It then passes through Purifiers, which are square, 
cast iron vessels, eleven feet long and five feet wide ; 
each containing five rows of perforated sheet-iron 
plates, one above the other, and all covered with 
hydrate of lime. In this process, as the gas passes 
through the lime, the carbonic acid and sulphuretted 
hydrogen are removed. 



MANHATTAN GAS WORKS. 225 



From these vessels, the gas is conducted through 
the Station Meters where it is accurately measured, to 
mammoth gas-holders, which are sheet-iron vessels, 
from forty to ninety feet in diameter, and from twenty 
to forty feet in height. 

From these great carburetted-hydrogen store- 
houses, the gas is conducted under ground through 
cast-iron pipes, from three to eighteen inches in 
diameter, to various parts of the city, greatly to the 
annoyance of those who " love darkness rather than 
light because their deeds are evil." 

But the reader may entertain an erroneous opinion 
in regard to the amount of pressure to which these 
great sheet-iron-hearts are subjected in order to drive 
their contents through the most remote, minute, 
crooked, and knotty net-work of arteries, for hundreds 
of miles. In this particular the writer claims to 
have been very considerably in the fog. The amount 
of pressure is almost nothing at all. 

And whether the gas-holder is full or not, the 
supply, when the gas is permitted to flow, is uni- 
formly the same. In one sense the gas-holder is 
always full, although the amount of gas may be 
modified every hour. 

These gas-holders are inverted vessels in brick 
tanks, or cisterns, which are twenty feet deep, and 
filled with water, and, like an inverted tumbler, dip 
into the water in said tanks, and sink or rise, as the 
quantity of the gas within is diminished or increased, 
and thus the consumer receives a uniform supply 
whether the reservoirs contain little or much. 

Thus the gas in store, contimsially rests upon the 
15 



226 MANHATTAN GAS WORKS. 

surface of the water, and to prevent too much pres- 
sure from the weight of these immense iron vessels, 
they are nearly balanced by weights, chains, and 
pullies, so that the pressure within is less than that 
obtained from a column of water two inches high. 
It will readily be understood, that the more the pres- 
sure, the greater the waste, wherever and whenever 
there happens to be a chance for it to escape. And 
hence the object of using as little as will produce a 
sufficient circulation. 

Gas is now considered almost indispensable in the 
city. So much so, that scarcely a respectable dwel- 
ling house is now built without gas-fixtures. The 
following statistics show a very great increase in the 
consumption of gas in our city. The amount made 
by this company in 1842 was 17,000,000; in 1850 
the amount was 103,000,000 cubic feet. 

This company has at present forty-three furnaces, 
and one hundred and thirty retorts, and employs one 
hundred and fifty men. They are now building a 
new retort-house one hundred and forty feet long, 
and fifty-two feet wide, to contain one hundred and 
fifty retorts. They are also building two tanks, 
eighty-six feet in diameter, and twenty feet deep, to 
receive two " Telescope gas-holders" (as they call 
them), which are to be forty feet high, and each 
capable of containing over 200,000 cubic feet of gas. 

During the winter season, this company manufac- 
tures about 500,000 feet per day, and the most which 
has yet been consumed in one night, is 560,000 feet. 

A street lamp, 4,000 of which are lighted by the 
Manhattan Gas- Works, will consume from three 



MANHATTAN GAS WORKS. 227 

to five feet per hour. Private burners about the 
same. The cost of gas to private consumers, is 
$S 50 per thousand feet. A cubic foot contains a 
little over six gallons. 

A ton of coal will make from nine to ten thousand 
feet of gas. A burner which will consume five 
feet of Cannel coal gas per hour, will produce a light 
equal to twenty-four sperm candles at six to the 
pound. The same quantity of New Castle, or Virginia 
coal gas, will only equal twelve candles. So says 
the engineer, and if any body, he knows. 

Gas-light, for many reasons, is preferable to any 
other artificial light with which we are acquainted. 
We sometimes hear it said, that it is injurious to the 
eye. But we hesitate not in the least to say that a 
thousand-fold more eyes are injured for the want of 
it. For the last ten years we have had an abundant 
opportunity of seeing this important organ affected, 
under almost every variety of circumstances. But 
w^e do not recollect of a single well marked case of 
serious injury from gas-light. 

But cases of injury resulting from the use of an 
imperfect light, have not been wanting. Neither 
have the fatal consequences of using " spirit gas" 
(falsely so called) been rare, scarcely a day passes 
without an explosion and disastrous results. 

Moreover, those distressing cases which so often 
send a shuddering chill through the community, in 
consequence of an unfortunate use of a simple candle, 
are probably more than ten times as likely to occur, 
as where gas is used, even in a proportionate number 
of burners. And for a very important reason. Gas 



228 MANHATTAN GAS WORKS. 

burners 3,ve fixtures. Another item to be considered 
is, gas light makes no sparks. 

The advantages of gas, as to cleanliness and its 
illuminating power, and the ease with which its light 
may be modified, &c., need not be noticed. The 
great desideratum seems to be, a good light, at a 
cheap rate, produced in a safe manner. 

In this city gas must necessarily be much higher 
than in many of our western cities where coal is 
much cheaper, as no suitable American coal can be 
had here, except at too great an expense. But, ac- 
cording to the information w^hich 1 received from Mr. 
Roome, there is one item which our consumers ought 
to know. That if the company was not obliged to 
light the public lamps at an actual loss every year, 
they could furnish private consumers at a price twen- 
ty-five per cent, less than at present. 

Now, although this company was chartered by the 
Legislature, yet it must obtain consent of the city 
to lay pipes in the streets. The city, as I under- 
stand, refuse this, unless the Gas Companies agree to 
light the street lamps for what the old oil lamps cost. 
Now, with this matter I have little to do, and about 
it less to say. It is more my appropriate business at 
present to chronicle what is, than to say what should 
be in Gotham. 

But, without appealing to plead the cause of the 
Gas Companies, or light-seekers, we will just say 
one thing. When we are out in the night, at an 
hour when honest men who can, ought to be asleep, 
and when the Island seems to be transferred to Egypt, 
we are pretty careful to keep out of the grease-light- 



METER. 229 



ed avenues when we can ; and feel safer to walk a 
street (if it is not too long) which has but one good 
gas-light at each end of it. 

METER. 

Before leaving the subject of gas, perhaps some of 
my readers may expect me to tell them how it is 
known what quantity each individual consumes ; or, 
in other words, how it is measured. Well, this is 
effected by the use of one of the most ingeniously 
contrived instruments ever devised by man for exer- 
cising the functions of an impartial agent between 
buyer and seller, namely, the meter. This instru- 
ment is attached to the pipe after it enters the dwell- 
ing, and through it all the gas must pass before it 
can reach the burners. 

Although simple in its construction, and beautiful 
in its operation, yet it is not a very easy matter to 
give a description of it that will be readily under- 
stood by those who have never seen it. Hundreds 
and thousands have it in their houses, and never take 
the trouble to know any thing about its ingenious 
contrivance. If such persons were to visit the manu- 
factory of Mr. Samuel Down, in 22d-street, near the- 
Hudson River, they would probably find that they 
had spent days and weeks, and dollars and cents to 
gratify curiosity, without obtaining one half of the 
satisfaction that this little instrument could measure 
out to them in half an hour. 

Mr. Down manufactures this article to great per- 
fection, and employs 36 men, at an average of about 
810 wages per week, and annually turns out 2,500 



230 PIANO-FORTES. 



instruments, each of which, with ordinary care, will 
last an age. 

This machine is composed entirely of metal, and 
consists mainly of an external cylindrical case, and 
an internal hollow drum, which resembles an ordin- 
ary reaction waterwheel. The interior has no com- 
munication with the atmosphere. The wheel, which 
revolves on its axis, is parti}" immerged in water. It 
is divided into four equal, obliquely formed cham- 
bers. The openings of these chambers are called 
inlets and outlets, and are so arranged that one 
chamber is filled at the same time that the one next 
to it is emptied, it being impossible that any two of 
the'm can be full at the same time. 

The gas, in passing through these apertures to the 
burner, gives a reaction motion to the wheel, while 
the inlets and outlets of the respective chambers are 
opened and closed as they successively rise above, 
and descend below the surface of the water. 

A simple train of wheels, similar to those used in 
clocks, being attached to the revolving drum, moves 
a hand over the dial or clock-like face, on the outside, 
which at a glimpse reveals the number of feet of gas 
■which have passed through the meter for months. 

This useful machine was. invented by a IMr. Cleg, 
of London, about thirty- three years ago, and has been 
improved very little since. 



PIANO-FORTES. 

There are forty or fifty manufactories of these 
beautiful musical, and almost indispensable instru- 
ments, which at the present day adorn nearly every 
mansion. But less than a dozen do the most of the 
business in this department. 

I recently had the pleasure of going through Mr. 
H. Worcester's manufactory, on the corner of Four- 
teenth-street and Third Avenue, and although he does 
not turn out so many instruments as some other 
shops, yet I believe there are no better ones made in 
town, than he manufactures. At any rate I was 
well paid for my visit, and saw in his wareroom as 
beautiful and fine-toned pianos as will often fall to 
the lot of delicate fingers to handle. The prices rang- 
ed from #225 to 81,000. 

The high and low priced instruments are made 
very much alike internally, at all the shops ; the 
principal difference in the expense, depends upon the 
external finish. 

Like all modern pianos, the instrument valued at 
a thousand dollars, was made of rosewood. The 
ends, front, and back were beautifully ornamented 
with inlaid woods of diff'erent hues, representing 
flowers, landscapes, birds, &c., and so exquisitely 
done, as to be easily mistaken for paintings. 

The legs which supported the instrument, were 



232 THE VEITERABLE PEAR-TREE. 

beautifully carved from large solid blocks of rose- 
wood, and cost about $150. The tone of the model- 
piano was as sweet to the ear, as honey is to the 
tongue. 

Mr. Worcester employs sixty workmen, at an aver- 
age of about $11 per week. In the manufacture of 
these articles, which contribute so much to domestic 
comfort, there are about thirty distinct branches, to 
say nothing about those who manufacture the lum- 
ber, the wire for the strings, the screws and nails, 
glue, varnish, brushes, sandpaper, and various other 
materials. 

THE VENERABLE PEAR TREE. 

The stranger, in visiting the city, should not forget 
the venerable old pear-tree which stands in the same 
avenue, on the next corner below. That is, on the 
corner of Third avenue and Thirteenth street, where 
it has stood since the year 1646. It is said that it 
was planted by Peter Stuyvesant, who was then Go- 
vernor of " New Netherlands,^^ and has lived to feed 
ten generations of red and white men, and bears fruit 
still, and from this living remembrancer of the good 
old days of yore, the writer fondly hopes to receive 
the present season a fresh token of the good sense of 
the Dutch Governor. In the mean time he will sing, 
"Woodman spare the tree." On the 10th day of 
June the present year, I measured this living relic of 
the ancient Knickerbockers, and found it to be, at the 
height of four feet from the ground, 99 inches in cir- 
cumference. 



PROFESSIONS AND CALLINGS. 



It may give the inexperienced reader a faint con- 
ception of the extent of the Empire City by glancing 
briefly at the numerical display of a few of the pro- 
fessions, trades, &c., although the following table 
falls short of the reality, as directories are imperfect 
guides. Moreover, it does not include clerks, jour- 
neymen, apprentices, &c. 



Merchants, Dry Goods, 


1,268 


Upholsterers, 


100 


Silks, &c., 


- 103 


Lawyers, 


1.265 


" Fancy Goods, 


502 


Physicians, 


900 


«« Th'-ead & Nedlee 


5, 243 


Druggists, 


265 


Toy, 


35 


Dentists, 


136 


Hard Ware, 


282 


Butchers, 


666 


«* Iron, 


57 


Bakers, 


467 


«« Stove, 


73 


Tailors, 


601 


«« Commission, 


679 


Dress-makers, - 


447 


« General, - 


133 


Boot & Shoe-makers 


1,221 


<« Forwarding, 


73 


Soap & Candle-makers, 


45 


«« Crockery & Glass, 


165 


Chair-makers, - 


277 


«* Book, 


231 


Cabinet-makers, 


278 


« Grocers, 


2,639 


Masons, (incorrect) 


44 


' Wine and Liquor 


239 


Machinists, 


79 


** Produce & Pro vis' 


n 414 


Painters, 


354 







Printing Establishments, 


264 


Total, 


7,136 


Jewelers, 


105 






Coopers, 


133 


Porter Houses, 


2,002 


Carpenters, 


230 


Hotels, 


6S 


Barbers & Hair-dressers, 


406 


Expresses, 


27 


Confectioners, 


271 


Tin Smiths, 


223 


Boarding Houses, 


561 


Engravers, 


151 


Wheelwrights, 


56 


Teachers (incorrect) 


100 


Milk and Butter Dealers, 


182 


Milliners, 


257 


Brokers, Exchange, &c. 


422 


Livery Stables, 


137 


Notaries, Public, 


87 


Varnish-makers, ' - 


16 


Fishmongers, 


115 


Iron Founders, 


39 


Sugar Refiners, 


13 


Flour Dealers, 


74 


Washerwomen, 


200 



SHIPPING. 

Few persons can be found who are not interested 
in taking a view of our forests of shipping ; for in our 
karbor, which is one of the best in the world, may be 
seen, every day in the 3'ear, a very large number of 
vessels of various sizes, kinds, and names, from differ- 
ent lands, or rather waters ; which sail under a 
variety of colors — and come, and go, laden with the 
productions of every clime. 

The total number of arrivals at this port during 
the year 1850 was 3,854, and for these statistics we 
are greatly indebted to Hamilton Bruce, Esq., of the 
Cus-tom House. 

Many of these vessels belong to regular lines, and 
move like clock-work, having fixed periods for sail- 
ing, freight or no freight, passengers or not. 

Others, are more unsteady and wandering, having 
the special right of sailing in any direction which 
offers the greatest inducements, or the most gold. 

Some of these ships, both the sailing and the 
steam packets, are magnificent " floating palaces" 
in earnest. The stranger will of course take delight 
in paying them a visit, and if he is fortunate enough 
to get into a circle of Jack Tars who have both the 
leisure and the inclination to exchange " yarns^'' he 
will probably be greatly amused with the thrilling 
descriptions of incidents in the lives of these gallant 
sons of the ocean. But he mus'n't mind the huvipers. 



PROFITS OF A SINGLE VOYAGE. 235 

About six months are required to build a first class 
sailing packet of 1,200 tons, as I am informed by a 
gentleman who has been long and successfully 
engaged in the shipping business ; and, including the 
rigging, it will take 20,000 days' work to finish it, 
and will cost when completed about 890,000. Her 
average trip to Liverpool will be about nineteen days ; 
her return trip twenty-seven days. Her fare $75 out, 
and $80 back, for cabin passage. Freight about $5 
per ton, to Liverpool or London. 

The number of vessels built at this port the past 
year, says the " Tribune," was eighty-seven, and the 
aggregate tunnage was 89,74L 

PROFITS OF A SINGLE VOYAGE. 

To give the reader a faint idea of the profits of the 
shipping business when successful, I will briefly 
notice the proceeds of one trip of a single vessel 
which left this port something over a year ago. She 
took in a cargo for San Francisco, and after reach- 
ing that port and discharging her freight, she started 
for China. There she reloaded and safely returned 
to New York, dividing among her owners $90,009 
net profit. This I had from one of the compan)^ 
But it will be remembered that such profitable trips 
are not quite so numerous as the drops of the ocean. 

I recently inquired of a wealthy ship owner, how 
many vessels he had lost during a long career of 
commercial operations on the Atlantic. He replied 
eight. 1 then asked him how many men in his 
employ had gone to the bottom of the ocean. To 
this solemn question he replied with a trembling lip, 



236 STEAM-SHIPS. 



" One hundred and seventy-five^'' besides here and 
there one who had been lost over board, either by 
his own carelessness and folly, or by accident or un- 
avoidable causes. 

Here we have at least two hundred individuals 
suddenly cut off v^^hile in the honest employment of 
a single man ; and a truthful list of all who sleep in 
the great deep who once sailed from this single port, 
would be frightfully interesting. 

STEAM-SHIPS. 

As steam-ships are becoming quite numerous and 
popular, I will briefly notice one, to which I have 
already alluded, namely, ihe " Arctic'^ and the only 
one which T have taken pains to examine — a model 
steamer of the Collins line. This vessel is 290 feet 
in length upon the upper deck, 46 feet deep, and 32 
feet hold. Her cabins are ample, convenient, and 
beautiful, though there is less display of " ginger- 
bread work," than in some modern vessels. 

Her " Side Lever Engine" is of beautiful work- 
manship, and has a ninety-five inch cylinder, and ten 
feet stroke. Her wheels are thirty-five feet, six 
inches in diameter, being armed with thirty-six 
paddles, each twelve feet, six inches in length. The 
engines rest upon immense cast iron bed pieces, 
thirty-two feet in length and nine feet in width. The 
shafts are 23 inches in diameter. There are four 
immense boilers. The weight of the engine and 
boilers, exclusive of water, is 800 tons ! This ship 
cost$600,000, and when at sea, requires the services 
of about 130 men. 



STEAM-BOATS. 237 



The steam-ships of this line average a trip in about 
eleven days. The quickest passage ever j^et made 
from New York to Liverpool is nine days and eigh- 
teen hours, which v\'as recently accomplished by the 
" P«ci/ic " of this line. The shortest return trip on 
record, is nine days eighteen hours and forty-five 
minutes, which was iachieved by the " Baltic^^ also 
of the Collins hne, which has completel}^ taken the 
palm. John Bull must do a little better, or stop 
bragging. These ships consume from 58 to 60 tons 
of coal per day. Passengers' fare is 8130 out, and 
about il75 from Liverpool to New York. 

The day of steam is full of wonders, and the pre- 
sent period is an age of astounding discoveries and 
marvelous achievements. But great as are the im- 
provements which have been introduced through the 
aid of this potent agent, yet, for aught we know, 
steam may soon be superseded by some motive power 
still more available. 

STEAM BOATS. 

As for ordinary steam hoats, our harbor, bay, and 
rivers are perfectly alive with them. Many of them 
are . commodious, and feome, magnificent almost 
beyond description, and move through the water as 
though they were in a hurry to cut up the element 
into ribbons: some of them measuring off nearly 
twenty-five miles in an hour. 

During the summer, more than a dozen are devoted 
to excursions, and frequently give our citizens the 
benefit of an agreeable . and healthful gliding over 
the waters of the Atlantic and Hudson, twenty or 



238 STEAM-BOATS. 



thirty miles for one York shilling. And in this re- 
spect, no other city in the world can hardly com- 
pare with New York. 

These steam-boats, many of which are constantly 
plying between the city and neighboring country 
towns, not only afford great facilities for travelling, 
but bring daily to our markets the indispensable pro- 
ductions of the farmer and gardener. 



RAIL-ROADS. 

Perhaps I ought to say a word about Rail-Roads 
and their benefit to the town. Our sister city in the 
old " Bay State," has rather taken the lead of us, 
in the Rail-Road enterprise. Yet the iron horse and 
his whistling rider are daily heard in our midst. 
There are at present but three rail-roads that directly 
reach the city — namely, the " Harlem," " New York 
and New Haven," and " Hudson River" Rail-Roads. 
But there are seven other roads — namely, " Camden 
and Amboy," " Central Rail-Road of New Jersey," 
" Long Island," " Morris and Essex," " Ramapo and 
Paterson," " New York and Erie," and " New J-ersey" 
Rail-Roads and their tributaries, which pour their 
cargoes of milk and honey into the lap of the metro- 
polis. But more of the former than of the latter. 

The immense benefit which our citizens daily 
derive from the facilities afforded by our rail-roads 
for obtaining the single article of pure milk, can 
hardly be computed. Neither can the evil which is 
still poured out upon the city through the medium of 
a flood of impure, poisonous, filth}', still-slop milk, be 
estimated. Its deadly influence falls more heavily 
upon children than upon any other class, and its dis- 
astrous and fatal effects are witnessed in the fright- 
ful bills of mortality from week to week. Its impure 
and indigestible qualities eminently fit it for produc- 



240 RAIL-ROAnS. 



ing great derangement of the delicate organs of the 
child. 

Almost every disease of children is the result of 
derangement in the stomach and bowels„ This filthy 
milk, for refusing to touch which a hog ought to be 
extoled for his wisdom, and for not refusing ought to 
be considered unclean as much by the Gentile as by 
the Jew ; this deadly slop, this whitened upas, which 
would be far less a curse to the city if it instantly 
paralyzed every hand that touched it, is fed to 
children by thousands and millions of quarts every 
season, and diarrhoea, cholera morbus, cholera infan- 
tum, scrofula, cachexia, marasmus, convulsions, &c., 
follow in its train. We do not deny that many other 
preventable causes of disease and death, exist, to an 
ala,rming extent. 

But this is no excuse for the continued use of 
impure milk. Instead of making the matter better, 
it only makes it worse. The press has spoken long 
and loud, with its almost omnipresent voice, and 
w^ith line upon line and precept upon precept has 
urged the people to take heed. Medical men have 
spoken from their own personal knowledge of its 
effects — and death itself has spoken in aw^ful tones, 
and fearful frequency, and yet, strange as it may 
appear, the sale of this deleterious article of food is 
daily on the increase, although a pure and healthful 
article from the country can be had for about the 
same price that is paid for sioill ! 

And now what shall be done ? Fathers, or rather 
mothei^s, what more shall be said to you, to check this 
w^ork of destruction ? If it were proper, I w^ould 



RAIL ROADS. 241 



pray God to send back some of your untimely buried 
children, to sit in their grave-clothes between the 
slop-jar and death-peddler, with a solemn charge to 
ride through the streets every morning on the hearse- 
forerunner, to warn every customer of approaching 
ruin. Yes, we would do anything which is lawful, 
to prevent premature death and a generation of 
invalids. But if this were actually and literally ful- 
filled, it is to be feared that to even a voice from the 
grave-yard, many would turn a deaf ear ; for if in- 
formation were wanted, enough has been given ; if 
not wanted, too much has been said already. 

But some may say, how shall we put a stop to this 
wretched, ruinous traffic ? 

I answer, let every one peremptorily refuse to admit 
on any terms, one drop of this still-slop milk upon 
his premises. Let him rest not, until the question 
whether his milk man is supplied from a pure or an 
impure fountain, be satisfactorily settled ; and let the 
Legislature pass a law making it as criminal for any 
man to poison the community with a spurious article 
called " pure country milk," as with a solution of 
arsenic, or anything else. 

The time was, and but a few years since, when, 
the immense amount of milk which is now consumed 
in the city, could hardly have been furnished from 
the country in good condition, at any price. But the 
opening of railroads has happily remedied the 
difficulty, and this leads me to speak of their great 
and untold benefit to the city. I look upon every 
dollar which is judiciously expended in these im- 
provements, as so much added to the common stock 
16 



242 RAIL-ROADS. 



for the public good ; and as much as has been done 
in this enterprise, I think that we are not yet aware 
of half the value of railroads, to speak only of the 
health and comfort of the public, which they directly 
and indirectly promote. Indeed, every man, woman 
and child in the city, is every day reaping the benefit 
which these public works confer upon them, whether 
thej^ ever step into a car or not. 

Having been favored with some interesting statis- 
tics in relation to the milk trade of New York, by 
R. M. Hartley, Esq., who has perhaps done more 
than any other man in town to expose the disgraceful 
and disastrous traffic in the filthy article already 
spoken of, and, as many thousands are interested in 
the facts presented, I am happy to introduce them. 

*' About twenty years having elapsed since our 
attention was first directed to the improper mode of 
producing milk for the supply of large cities, and 
having in the interval endeavored in various ways 
to effect a reform of this great evil, it is natural that 
we should feel a deep interest in whatever relates to 
the topic. Previous to that period little or nothing- 
was known on the subject. It appeared to have 
been unthought of; and as no information in respect 
to it could be obtained from oral intercourse, or from 
books, we were ourselves induced to undertake its 
investigation. 

'^ For this purpose we made a careful survey of the 
distilleries ■ and their indispensable appendages, the 
dairies ; ascertained the peculiar characteristics of 
slop-milk, and its deleterious effects on health, espe- 
cially young children ; and, following causes to their 



RAIL-ROADS. 243 



results, discovered that tVie system was as rife with 
moral as with physical evils ; that it was of great 
extent, and had become firmly established by a com- 
bination of distillers,' slop-dairymen and their pa- 
trons, whose mutual interests had united them in its 
support. 

" Having in short, demonstrated that our views on 
the subject were incontrovertable, we endeavored to 
spread them before the people, through the public 
journals, and by numerous lectures, which so exas- 
perated the distillers and slop-men, whose craft was 
endangered, as to expose us to personal peril, and in 
some instances to actual assault. 

" At that time there was not one pure milk dairy 
in the city of New-York or vicinitj^ All supplied 
an article more or less deleterious, while the popula- 
tion were profoundly ignorant of the evils thus in- 
flicted upon them. But when facts revealed the na- 
ture and magnitude of this iniquitous and destructive 
system, the public mind became highly incensed, and 
there was a loud and an earnest demand for pure 
milk." 

After speaking of addressing a circular to the far- 
mers of the surrounding country to induce them to 
establish pure milk dairies, and of partial though in- 
sufficient success, he says, " The opening of the Eri^ 
Railroad, which intersects some of the richest graz- 
ing regions in the State, formed a new era in the 
milk business. 

" The first milk that passed over the road to New 
York, came in a demijohn to our office, and so supe- 
rior was its flavor and richness, we feared deception 



244 



RAIL-nOADS. 



had been practiced by putting more cream in the 
milk than belonged to it. In order to show the rapid 
increase of the supply, from this small beginning, we 
have been at the pains to obtain the statistics of the 
milk-trade by this road, which we subjoin as a mat- 
ter of economic interest. 

"the amount of milk transported over the NEW- 
YORK AND ERIE RAILROAD SINCE ITS OPENING." 



Years. 




No. of Quarts. 


1842, 




388.505 


1843, 




3,181,505 


1844, 




5,095,762 


J 845, 




6,227,288 


1846, 




7,090,348 


1847, 




8,696,172 


1848, 




9,514,440 


1849, 




9,480,476 


6 mo. of 1850, 


Total 


4,038,748 




53,713,244 



" We annex a statement of the present annual 
consumption of milk in this city. The data being 
furnished by official returns, and by other authentic 
sources, it may be relied upon as not an overstate- 
ment, but as coming as near the truth as possible. 
The daily consumption amounts to about 150,000 
quarts, and the aggregate for the year, to 54,750,000 
quarts, which is chiefly supplied as follows, viz : 

Pure milk per Erie Railroad, say, 9,500,000 

Do. N. J., L. Island, Hudson River, 

Harlem, 6z: N. Haven R. R., &c., 7,200,000 



Total pure milk, 16,700,000 

Distillery and other impure milk, 38,050,000 



Grand total. 



54,750,000 



RAIL-ROADS. 245 



" It is worthy of notice," " that the quantity of pure 
milk brought to this city, is now greater than was 
the aggregate of all kinds in 1841 ; also, that the 
consumption has far exceeded the ratio of the in- 
crease of the inhabitants. In 1841, with a popula- 
tion of 312,000, the daily supply was about 45,000 
quarts ; in 1851, with a population of 515,000, the 
daily supply is 150,000 quarts, showing an augmen- 
tation of quantity above the ratio of the increase of 
population of more than 100 per cent." 

"The diminished priceof milk, also merits notice." 
"In 1841, because of the expense of transportation, 
pure milk produced from natural food, rich and 
wholesome, could not be brought to our doors in sum- 
mer for less than six cents a quart, nor in winter for 
less than eight cents, making the yearly average 
price, about seven cents, while slop-milk sold at four 
and six cents, or at an average for the year of about 
five cents." 

Now pure country milk may be had for four 
cents in summer, and five cents in winter, while the 
average price of slop-milk is about four cents. *' Pro- 
bably the decrease in the price of milk, is chiefly 
owing to the competition consequent on the increas- 
ed supply by the improved facilities of transporta- 
tion." 

"The introduction of pure milk, therefore, has re- 
sulted, as may be seen on comparing prices, in a pe- 
cuniary saving to the city of New- York and vicinity, 
of at least a million of dollars a year.''^ 

Now, dollars and cents are not the sole items to be 
taken into the account, for health and life, though 



246 RAIL-ROADS. 



too little valued, are still considered of some impor- 
tance, even in this benighted city; and when we call 
to mind the frightful amount of impure milk which 
is still given to little ones who require healthful food, 
we feel constrained to say to our dairy and railroad 
friends, multiply your cows, increase your cans, en- 
large your cars, and put on the steam, for two hun- 
dred thousand children are worth more than all the 
distilleries (and we feel almost inclined to add distil- 
lers) in North America. 

" But a question of primary importance here arises. 
Can New-York and the adjacent places be^ ade- 
quately supplied with pure milk ?" " From the iso- 
lated situation of this city, there is very little good 
pasturage in its vicinity ; and the little there was, 
has in late years been put in requisition for ether 
uses. There has been indeed, no period within the 
last forty years, in which the country in the imme- 
diate vicinage of New-York could adequately supply 
the inhabitants with wholesome vegetables and pure 
milk. 

" But the opening of railroads within the past ten 
years, has entirely revolutionized our condition in 
this respect, so that the products of the richest graz- 
ing regions may now be brought to our doors. We 
are convinced both by our own observation, and the 
opinion of those most conversant with the subject, 
that the country along the line of the Erie Railroad, 
not too remote for the transportation of so perishable 
an article as milk, w^hich now supplies about 26.000 
quarts of milk per day, could be made to furnish 
150^000 quarts daily, or sufficient for the present de 



RAIL- ROADS. 247 



maiid of the city — that the Harlem and Hudson River 
railroads could each supply 50,000 quarts, and other 
sources about 15,000 quarts," which might, "by the 
present facilities of conveyance, be brought to the 
city, at prices not exceeding those now paid for the 
diseased dregs of the distillery." 

The manuscript from which we select the above 
items, contains several communications from eminent 
physicians, confirmatory of the morbific influence of 
slop-milk, but our limits will permit us to call the 
reader's attention to only one. 

"Dr. Alexander H. Stevens, Professor of the New 
York College of Physicians and Surgeons, states of a 
child about eighteen months old, who, while a resi- 
dent in his family, was in perfect health ; on remov- 
ing to a hotel, was constantly afflicted with uncon- 
trolable vomiting. The milk being suspected to be 
the cause, it was thenceforward sent from the Doc- 
tor's family, when the complaint entirely ceased, and 
was renewed only with a renewal of the milk from 
the hotel, and this occurring so repeatedly as to 
leave no doubt of the cause." 

I may add that the " New-York Academy of Medi- 
cine" have recently adopted the following resolution: 

^^ Resolved, That in the opinion of this Academy, the 
milk of cows shut up in stables and fed on distillery 
slops, is not only less nutritious than unconfined and 
well fed animals, but is positively deleterious, espe- 
cially to young children, and is a fruitful cause of 
many fatal diseases." 

But not only do our railroads afford facilities for 
bringing to our doors pure milk, in good condition, 



248 OMNIBUSES. 



and at fair rates, but almost every other edible can 
be brought to us in a fresh and healthful state. 
Hence we may reasonably conclude that railroads 
are an inestimable blessing to our city. 

OMNIBUSES. 

The city traveller is not confined to one set of vehi- 
cles, and, in addition to cars, there is a perfect swarm 
of stages which, for the want of a worse name, are 
commonly called omnibuses ; which means, although, 
perhaps Mr. Webster does not exactly say so, a ve- 
hicle for the accommodation and transportation of 
Adam's race, of every kind, whether good or bad, 
rich or poor, great or small. There are now twenty- 
four lines, and the total number of stages on these 
routes amounts to five hundred and fift3^-four, each 
of which has two or more horses. 

The number of these dutiful and useful animals, 
which are annually worn out in this service, I am 
told, averages about one to every stage. 

The vehicles are somewhat more durable, though 
each one needs more or less repairs during its first 
year's running. The cost of a good omnibus is about 
8450. 

The number of hacks, cabs and coaches, to say 
nothing of various other vehicles, I am not able to 
give. At any rate there appears to be no lack for 
all who have time and inclination to ride, and mo- 
ney to pay the bill. But that the reader may see 
that many in our town have other things to do be- 
side riding in " a coach and four," we must turn our 
attention to certain other appendages of Ne\^ York. 



LITERARY INSTITUTIONS. 

I have already spoken of our common schools, 
which are likely to prove a great blessing to our city 
and country. In addition to these, we have a host 
of select schools and seminaries of the highest order, 
which are prosecuting a great and good work. 
Then we have writing-schools, grammar-schools, 
evening-schools, and private schools for improve- 
ment in the arts of music, painting, drawing, &c. 

But I must notice other institutions of learning. 
And to one of the most venerable and noble, I would 
now invite the reader's attention, namely, 

COLUMBIA COLLEGE. 

The writer is happy to acknowledge his indebted- 
ness to Charles King, Esq., the worthy President of 
this esteemed institution, for his kind and ready as- 
sistance in furnishing such data as the author desired. 
My notices of colleges must necessarily be very 
brief. 

This college was chartered in the year 1754, and 
was called " King's College," and it is King^s Col- 
lege still, although the reign of Charles contrasts 
very favorably with that of George, because the pre- 
sent king and all his subjects can sing " Hail Co- 
lumbia." 

In 1787, this institution received the name by 



250 COLUMBIA COLLEGE. 

which it has ever since been distinguished. On the 
6th of April, 1776, the Committee of Public Safety 
issued an order directing the Treasurer to prepare 
the college buildings within six days for the recep- 
tion of the military, and these halls of learning w^ere 
converted into a military hospital. 

The students were of course dispersed, and proba- 
bly took to their muskets. At this memorable pe- 
riod, our fathers thought more of liberty than of 
academical honors, and well for their posterity that 
they did, though they were very far from thinking 
lightly of the latter. 

Our late distinguished De Witt Clinton received 
his academical honors from this institution, in 1786, 
there being only eight graduates that year. In 1789, 
the late Rev. John M. Mason, D. D., graduated at 
this college, and subsequently became one of the 
most eloquent preachers that ever adorned the Ame- 
rican pulpit. The first honors conferred by this 
college, occurred in 1758. 

The faculty of Medicine in Columbia College ceas- 
ed in the year 1813. Among the distinguished me- 
dical gentlemen who received their diplomas from 
this department, may be noticed, Alexander Hosack, 
M. D. (deceased), James R. Manley, M. D., Thomas 
Cock, M. D., William James Macneven, M. D. (de- 
ceased), and Valentine Mott, M. D. 

The annual tuition fee of each student is $90, to 
be paid at the commencement of each academic 
year. Each student has access to a library of 15,000 
volumes. The number of students the past year was 
one hundred and thirteen. 



UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF NEW- YORK. 251 

UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF NEW-YORK. 

This institution, though less venerable in some res- 
pects than the college just noticed, at least so far as 
agb is concerned, yet in other respects I believe that 
it is vSecond to none in our State. True, it never 
had a king, yet it has had royal blood to sustain it ; 
and its usefulness is now too widely known to be in 
any way benefited by any thing which the writer 
can say in its praise. But, almost any liberal man 
who has plenty of money, can greatly augment its 
prosperity, by paying off its debts. The expenses 
attending a course of studies at this institution, 
amount to about the same as at Columbia College. 
The number of students the past year was one hun- 
dred and fifteen. 

The University was chartered April 21, 1831. 
The building is a substantial edifice, being built of 
Sing Sing marble — is four stories high, and extends 
from Washington Place, to Waverly Place, and fronts 
on Washington Square, which was once the Potter's 
Field, but is now a beautiful Park, containing nearly 
ten acres, and which affords the students a fine airy 
place for exercise and amusement, very much to 
their satisfaction and profit. 

The medical department of this Institution was 
organized, and under favorable auspices entered upon 
the discharge of a duty of much responsibility^ 
during the year 1841. Since its first beginning, it 
has apparently remained in a prosperous condition. 
The number of students during the last session was 
411.' Number of graduates, 116. Fees for a full 
courseof lectures, ^105. Graduation fee, $30. The 



252 COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS. 

qualifications required of the candidate for medical 
honors, are, lawful age — namely, twenty-one years, 
three years study with a regular physician, and two 
courses of medical lectures. The term of lectures 
begins on the last Monday in October, and ends on 
the last day of February. 

" COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS IN THE CITY 
OF NEW YORK." 

This is the oldest Medical College in the State, and 
was chartered in 1807. It has ever aimed at a 
thorough course of instruction, and especially for the 
last decennial period can the writer speak with con- 
fidence from personal observation. But we do not 
mean to say that all who either here or any where 
else, attend medical lectures, and read medical books, 
and receive medical honors, and make medical visits, 
are fit to practice the healing art. Far from it. 
Oh, no, we must be content with second-rate doctors, 
and second-rate patients, second-rate lawyers, and 
third-rate clients, second-rate preachers, and fourth- 
rate hearers. 

The session of this College commences on the 
second Monday in October, and continues until about 
the middle of March, making five months. Fees for 
a full course of lectures $94. Demonstrator's ticket 
$5. Graduation fee $25. The pre-requisites for 
graduation are the same as noticed above. The 
number of students during the last session was 230. 
Number of graduates, 56. 

We have recently had the third doctor-making 
factory chartered, called the " New York Medical 



LITERARY AND MEDICAL COLLEGES. 253 

College," but as it is not a year old, and as I know 
very little about its prospects, I can say little. 

In the sixty-third Annual Report of the Regents of 
the University of the State of New York, we notice 
that the number of students in general literature and 
science, reported by the several Colleges, was 948. 
And this is a small number for the Empire State. 
Whereas, in the medical department, there were 848 
students reported. This we call a pretty fair sprink- 
ling of doctors, and although it may have nothing to 
do with " What I saw in New York," yet it will have 
something to do with somebody, and for their sake 
and the doctors', we hope that at least one-half of 
these candidates for medical honors will repent, 
after the " sober second thought," and wield the sickle 
instead of the lancet, lest they starve. 

LITERARY AND MEDICAL COLLEGES IN THE STATE OP 
NEW YORK. 

Columbia College. 

Union 

Hamilton " 

Geneva " and its Medical Department. 

University of the City of N. Y. and its Med. Dep't. - 

'* " Buffalo, " 

College of Physicians and Surgeons in the City of 

New York. 
St. John's College. 
Madison University. 
Albany Medical College. 
New York Medical College. 
Genesee College. 



254 SEMINARIES. 



THE (episcopal) GENERAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF 
NEW YORK. 

For some brief statistics of this Seminar}^ the 
writer is indebted to Professor Benjamin I. Haight, 
D. D. This institution was chartered in the year 
1822, and is now in a prosperous condition. The 
plot of ground on which the buildings stand, extends 
from Twentieth to Twenty-first street, and from 
the Ninth to the Tenth avenues ; and is said to be 
w^orth at least ^200,000, and increasing in value 
every day. Moreover, a recent legacy of 8100,000 
has contributed in no small degree to place the insti- 
tution on a good foundation. 

Qualifications for admission are as follows : — 
" Either a certificate of being a candidate for Holy 
Orders, with full qualifications ; or a certificate of 
religious and moral character, of classical and scien- 
tific attainments, of attachment to the Protestant 
Episcopal Church, and of such dispositions and habits 
as may render the individual apt and meet to exer- 
cise the ministry ; and then passing a satisfactory 
examination on the following subjects :^ — 1. The 
Primary Elements of the Hebrew Tongue ; 2. The 
Greek Grammar, and the Gospels and Acts in the 
original ; 3. The rules and principles of English 
composition, with a specimen of composition. These 
examinations are strictly enforced, in all cases." 
This institution has an able Faculty. 

The number of students in 1850 was 48. Total 
number of the Alumni, 390. Volumes in the Library 
10,300. 



SEMINARIES. 255 



UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 

For statistics from this Seminary, the writer is 
indebted to Professor Edward Robinson, D.D., L.L.D. 

This institution was founded and opened for in- 
struction in 1836. The seminary is No. 9 University 
Place. It contains a Chapel, Library, four Lecture 
Rooms, and private rooms sufficient for more than 
thirty students. The Library contains about 17,000 
volumes, many of which are rare and valuable 
works. 

This institution, though in a prosperous condition, 
and an ornament to Zion, is by no means so well 
supplied with funds as the one last noticed, or as it 
deserves to be. It needs, and richly merits a liberal 
support. But it has reason to take courage, and go 
on in its glorious work, for it has friends — warm 
friends — many friends — friends on earth, and friends 
in Heaven. Friends for time, and friends for eternity. 
It has moreover a Faculty of strong men, combining 
a great variety of gifts a^nd graces. 

This seminary is open for the admission of students 
from every denomination of Christians. 

" Every person applying for admission, must pro- 
duce a certificate or other satisfactory evidence of 
his good standing in some Evangelical Church ; and 
must either present testimonials of his having had a 
regular college education, or submit to an examina- 
tion by the Faculty on the branches usually taught 
in such a course." 

" The academic year consists of a siijgle term, be- 



256 WHAT I SAW IN CHURCH. 



ginning on the third Wednesday in September, and 
ending on the third Wednesday in June." 

The regular course of instructions in the seminary 
occupies three full years, and comprises the following 
branches, namely — Exercise in Hebrew and Greek — 
mental and moral science — natural theolog}' — evi- 
dences of Revelation — Biblical history — systematic 
theology, polemic theology, pastoral theology — 
church government — ecclesiastical history, compo- 
sition, delivery of sermons, &c. &c. 

Every student is subject to a charge of only ten 
dollars a year. The number of students the past 
year was seventy-six. Alumni, nineteen. Whole 
number of Alumni, three hundred and fourteen. 

WHAT I SAW IN CHURCH. 

On a Sabbath morning have I often listened with 
satisfaction to the musical tones of the sanctuary- 
bell which seemed to say, Come, come, immortal, the 
doors of the sacred courts are widely open — come to 
the house of God where life eternal is proclaimed to 
all the dead in sin. 

I have also witnessed with pleasure, the happy, 
obedient throng wending their way thitherward — 
the father, son, mother, daughter, hoary head, and the 
little child, and felt it a privilege to be among them, 
as they presented themselves before the mercy-seat 
of Him who is Lord of lords and King of kings, to 
invoke Heaven's richest gift and greatest blessing. 

I have fondly listened to the deep and solemn tones 
of the organ, and with still greater and far greater 
pleasure, to the heaven-like anthems of the choir. 



WHAT I SAW IN CHURCH. 257 

I have, moreover, heard the man of God in the 
name of his Master eloquently, faithfully and affec- 
tionately warn the people to flee from the wrath to 
come, as he set before them life and death, with 
thrilling pathos, glowing zeal, and moving tender- 
ness, and I felt that it was good to be there. 

But I have seen even in this sacred place, some 
things to deplore. We occasionally find a man in 
the pulpit trying to enlighten the congregation on 
some subject which he either does not understand, or 
of which he has no faculty of giving an intelligible 
exposition. 

But as I did not intend to speak either of pulpit 
errors or pulpit deficiences, I will briefly notice a 
few congregational imperfections which possibly 
might be modified for the better. Though I would 
have it distinctly understood that I am not quite 
certain that I have not seen an equal demand for an 
improvement in the country. 

When the congregation have taken their seats, and 

the preacher has taken his text, and the hearer has 

taken his Bible, and the people are ready to take heed, 

in come the late-sleepers, rattling into church to be 

seen and heard, and to kick a good share of the hats 

in the broad aisle, a little nearer to the pulpit, setting 

some to chasing them, and*bthers to jumping up to 

give them seats. This is anything but edification ; 

but it is not all. They seem to think that as they 

are late at church, they ought to be early home, and 

so take the liberty of retracing their steps before the 

service is ended, greatly to the annoyance of those 

who have an ear to Jiear. A certain class seem to 
17 



258 WHAT I SAW IN CHURCH. 

think that it makes little or no difference whether the 
congregation can hear the preacher's voice or not, 
nor how much they are disturbed. 

Then, there is a class who rise betimes and make 
haste to church lest they should lose an hour's sleep 
where they usually take the sweetest nap in the 
"whole week, and seem to hesitate not to follow their 
accustomed calling even to nodding, if not to snoring , 
"which gross violation of the rules of decency, very 
often slightly disturbs the equilibrium of those who 
are wakefully nervous. 

Then again, there are those who are so fond of 
music, that they neither sleep themselves nor give 
others a chance to become drowsy. Cold, or no cold, 
they must blow, and blow, harder and harder — louder 
and louder — no matter vi^ho sings, who preaches, 
■who prays. It is a part of the service never to be 
dispensed with — and toot-toot, goes the living, ill-used 
and ill-tuned trombone, which should be decently 
muffled with a respectable kerchief, and the music 
reserved for a more suitable occasion. 

But there is often more than all this to disturb the 
congregation, and the preacher too, for unfortunate- 
ly he happens to have a few nerves as well as his 
hearers, and I have more than once known it to be 
necessary for him to give from the sacred desk such 
hints on the subject of congregational disturbances, 
as ought to have been intelligible to the most stupid 
hearer. And more frequently still, have I seen such 
a lecture demanded, and I have said to myself what 
ails the people that they can't keep still long enough 
for the parson to read his text, when not one of them 



WHAT I SAW IS CHURCH. 259 

would make half so much noise in reading a morn- 
ing paper for a whole hour. 

But never mind that. They don't go to church to 
hear the news, but to be seen and heard, to whisper 
and laugh, to ruffle their books, and rattle their doors, 
and if the preacher should be guilty of half as many 
improprieties in the pulpit, as his hearers practice in 
their seats, the whole congregation would leave the 
house, and declare him a maniac, and not a few 
ministers of the gospel would sanction the verdict. 

But I do not intend to accuse the congregations of 
our goodly town of intentionally committing all the 
aoove improprieties. That such and other sources 
of disturbance too much abound at times, throughout 
Christendom, I suppose nobody doubts. But, that I 
have seen very little, and can know very little about 
the demeanor of the several congregations of New- 
York, will be very apparent to the reader, by his 
calling to mind the number of churches in the city, 
as given in the table below. Although it may not 
be perfectly free from errors, yet we believe it to be 
sufficiently so to answer our purpose. We have col- 
lected these statistics partly from our own inquiries, 
partly from City Directories, and partly from "New 
York, Past, Present and Future," which I believe is 
better authority as far as it goes, than any of our 
directories, which must all necessarily be imperfect 
at the best. 

We find, for example, in Doggett's *' Directory" for 
the present year, only 40 Protestant Episcopal 
churches, but in Rode's last year's Directory, there 
are 43 ; whereas in " New- York, Past, Present and 



260 WHAT 1 SAW IN CHURCH. 

Future," there are 47, which is doubtless correct, as 
the location of every church is given. That men 
who grope about town to collect statistics for a direc- 
tory from year to year, should miss some poor mor- 
tals in their hiding-places, is not very strange. But 
seven churches out of forty-seven, we think are a lit- 
tle too many to be lost. 

But I perceive that I am accidentally as it were, 
giving a chapter on Directories, and my only apology 
for this digression is, that our country friends when 
they come to town and look at these useful guide- 
boards, and find a church or a pastor lacking, may 
not be too soon discouraged. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 



Protestant Episcopal, 47 

Methodist, " - - 32 

Methodist (not Episcopal,) 10 

Mariners', _ - . 1 

Cliristian, - - - 2 

Mount Zion, - - - 1 

Congregational, . - 8 

Moravian, ... 1 

Roman Catholic, - - 22 

Second Advent, - - 3 

New Jerusalem, - - 2 

Universal i St, - - 4 

Unitarian, - - 2 

Presbyterian, - - 35 

Reformed Presbyterian, - 4 



Associate Presbyterian, 5 

Associate Relormed, " - 2 

Reformed Dutch, - - 19 

" French, - - 1 

Lutheran, ... Q 

Free German Catholic, - 1 

Baptist, - - - 29 

Seventh-Day Baptist, 1 

Free Will " - 1 

Independent " - - 1 

Campbellites, . _ i 

Union Mission, - > i 

Jewish Synagogues, - 10 

Friends, - - - • 4 

Total, - 257 



Now here may appear, at first view, to be a pretty- 
good supply of churches, yet all the houses of wor- 
ship in the city can hardly accommodate two hun- 
dred thousand persons, and then we have more than 
three hundred thousand inhabitants left unsupplied, 
to stroll about — visit the groggery, and become hca- 
thenized. This I regard as one of the saddest things 
in the account which I have to give of New-York. 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



As churches would be nothing without the blessed 
gospel, we will turn our attention for a moment to 
that glorious institution whose object is to multiply 
and circulate the word of life. 



262 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

BIBLE SOCIETY HOUSE. 

From the last Annual Report, &c., we gather the 
following interesting facts. Thirty-five years ago 
this society began its operatiojis. " The building on 
Nassau-street, New-York, is one hundred feet square, 
with a court in the centre, in which the printing and 
binding are done, and in which the depositoiy and 
ofRces of business are located. 

" This building is an object of interest to strangers 
visiting the city, and is at all times open to the in- 
spection of those who would be pleased to see the 
various departments of manufacture here in progress. 
Two hundred and twenty-two individuals are engaged 
in this establishment, which is able to produce on an 
average, two thousand Bibles and Testaments each 
working day." 

" It has been computed that there are now about 
forty millions of Bibles on the face of the earth. If 
these were equally distributed among the inhabitants 
of the world, it would be one Bible to every thirty- 
one souls /" It is estimated that the 

English language is spoken by 55,000,000 

French, " " 35,000,000 

German, " " 40,000,000 

Russian, *' " 45,000,000 

"The other languages of Europe would hardly 
embrace 50,000,000 of people ; making a total of 
225,000,000 ; not so many as there are in the single 
empire of China, which has been hid in darkness 
until now, when the Sun of Righteousness seems to 
be rising upon her." Let us send her the lamp of 
life. 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 263 

" Sixty or seventy Protestant missionaries are now 
perfecting a version of the Scriptures for China, and 
when completed, the energies of Christendom should 
be summoned to give it to the people with rapidity 
and prayer." 

The society printed during the past year 270,000 
Bibles, and 402,800 Testaments, making a total of 
672,800 copies. Since the society was organized in 
1816, about 8,000,000 volumes have been issued, be- 
sides more or less aid extended to the press in foreign 
lands. 

Moreover, the society has published during the 
past year 149 volumes of raised letters for the blind. 
The facility with which this unfortunate class are 
able to read the written word with the ends of their 
fingers, is truly astonishing, and highly gratifying to 
all who witness their attainments. 

The receipts for the year amounted to 8276,882 53, 
and the expenditures about the same sum. 

The income of the '' British and Foreign Bible So- 
ciety" during the year 1849 was $480,000. And its 
issues since its beginning, in 1804, amount to 21,973,- 
355 copies. 

The whole number of languages and dialects, in 
which the sacred scriptures, or some portions thereof, 
have been published, is about two hundred. This 
great work has been accomplished almost entirely 
through the influence of Bible societies. And the 
amount of good which has thus been done, no mortal 
or finite mind can estimate. 

Now, let me say to the reader, if you have not a 
deep sense of the importance of sending the gospel 



264 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

to the destitute, for a moment suppose yourself to be 
a husband and a father in this benighted state. You 
sigh for some object of worship. This you would 
surely do, for man is a religious being. At length 
you fancy that the proper object has occurred to 
you, both as regards size, form and texture, and you 
carve it out accordingly — set it up — fall down 
before it, and invoke its protection, crave its bless- 
ing, and offer it a tribute of adoration and praise, 
and thus go on confessing your dependence upon it 
and offering to the poor block your best sacrifices. 

Your companion, not satisfied with your selection, 
adores the sun, and every morning as soon as it rises 
above the horizon, calls loudly and earnestly for 
help, and offers it the sacrifice of a poor benighted 
heart. 

Your child in due time begins to question the 
choice of both father and mother, and fancies the 
moon to be of as much service by night as the 
sun is by day, and as he can behold its beautiful face 
without pain, and even with pleasure, the moon be- 
comes his god. 

Another child, as he arrives at a sufficient age to 
choose for himself, begins to doubt the propriety of 
the choice of the whole household, and questions you 
concerning his making a selection, and you try to 
satisfy him that your idol is all that he can ask. But 
as you have no proper standard, your arguments 
fail. 

*' Father, it won't do," he replies; "it is dead. It 
can't stir. I want a god that is alive, and can move, 
or what good can it do me ?" 



AMERICAN HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 265 

You then refer him to the sun. moon and stars, 
which so many worship, and tell him that he may- 
call upon them. 

Again he responds, " Father, they won't do. They 
are too far off. But here is a beautiful serpent, and 
this shall be my god ;" and thus you would all grope 
in darkness and stumble at noonday, while calling 
upon gods that could neither hear nor save. Shall 
we not return thanks to the Giver, for an unerring 
standard, and send it abroad to bless the world ? 

Only one dollar will send to the destitute, four co- 
pies of the Bible, or sixteen copies of the New Tes- 
tament. This of course includes only those of the 
lowest price. Now who are so poor that they can- 
not afford to send to the perishing one copy every 
month ? Send in your contributions to Joseph Hyde, 
Esq., Assistant Treasurer, Bible House, New York, 

AMERICAN HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 

As Bibles will not go abroad to promulgate their 
glorious doctrines, after being printed, without the 
help of man, it is very proper that I should briefly 
notice the operations of such societies as in no small 
degree scatter broad-cast the leaves of the tree of 
life which are for the healing of the nations. 

This society, whose object is to assist congrega- 
tions which need help, and to send the Gospel to the 
destitute within the United States ; also to co-operate 
with evangelical Christians in the support of Home 
Missions in nominally christian countries, commenc- 
ed its labor of love in the year 1826, and is so wide- 
ly known that perhaps few of my readers will re- 
12 



266 AMERICAN HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 



quire any thing to be said concerning its history, im- 
portance, prosperity, &c. 

From the last Annual Report we collect the fol- 
lowing interesting statistics. 

The receipts of this society during the first year of 
its operations, were eS18,l40 76. The last year, 
$150,940 2.5. Total for the 25 years, $2,205,358 16. 
Total of years of labor, ] 3,098. " The average ex- 
penditure for a year of missionary labor for the twen- 
ty-years is SI 67." " The whole number of additions 
to the churches, is 107,781." The number of labor- 
ers has been, the last year, 1,065. They have been 
distributed in 26 different states and territories. 
" The aggregate of ministprial labor performed the 
past year is equal to 853 years. The number of 
congregations and missionary districts supplied in 
whole or in part, at stated intervals, is 1,820 ; while 
many others have enjoyed the occasional labors of 
the missionaries." And what is not a little encou- 
raging, no less than forty-three have become self- 
supporting churches. 

Moreover, sixty houses of worship have during the 
year been completed ; fifty-five others repaired, and 
forty others are in process of erection. 

" The number of pupils in the Sabbath-schools and 
Bible classes connected with the Missionary churches 
is not far from 70,000." Now we hope that this, 
though imperfect and brief notice, will stimulate 
some of our readers to double and treble their con- 
tributions to this glorious and heaven-favored insti- 
tution. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 



267 



BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS. 

As this Society has an office in this city, and here 
does a large share of its home business, I will briefly 
notice some of the interesting statistics which the last 
annual report furnishes. 

The receipts of this Society during its first year 
(1811), were only $999 52. The amount received dur- 
ing the year 1850, was 251,862 28. There have been 
six j^ears, however, in which the annual receipts ex- 
ceeded those of the last, and during the forty years 
in which the society has been engaged in its glorious 
work of carrying the gospel to the palaces and the 
hovels of the heathen, the largest amount contributed 
was in the year 1842, namely, $318,396 53. The 
sum total for the whole period, is $5,313,566 76. 

The whole number of laborers now connected with 
the missions, foreign and native who depend for their 
means of living and usefulness, on the treasury of 
the Board, is five hundred and seventeen. The 
number of churches formed in the missions, is eighty- 
five. These contain 25,875 members in regular 
standing. 

Now, will the reader lend a helping had to carry 
forward this redeeming work ? If so, whenever you 
hear the Macedonian cry, " Come over and help us," 
just cast into the treasury (if you cannot go yourself) 
such an ofiering as will enable you to say intelli- 
gently and honestly, Lord, tliou dost not require of me 
at the present time, any more, and let the offering be 
perfumed with faith and prayer. 



268 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 



AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY. 

The above Missionary Societies, to which I have 
briefly adverted, together with other benevolent in- 
stitutions which might with propriety be noticed, have 
each an office in the " Tract House," to which 1 must 
now take the reader, for it is a sacred spot, which 
every one who can ought to visit, and become a 
Colporteur. From the annual report, pamphlet, &c., 
the following interesting items are selected : — 

TRACT HOUSE. 

This building, which belongs to the society, and 
which stands on the corner of Nassau and Spruce 
streets, "is eighty feet by ninety-four, and five stories 
high, besides basement and cellar. The first floor is 
occupied by the society's sales-room and other stores ; 
the second furnishes offices for several benevolent 
societies ; the third contains the general depository 
and executive offices ; the fourth is the bindery, and 
the fifth the printing office. 

" The printing and hydraulic presses — of which there 
are twenty — and other machinery, are propelled by 
steam. The number of printers, binders, and other 
persons employed in the building, is not far from 
250 ; and the daily issues of the society are about 
25,000 publications, including 3,000 books." 

" The American Tract Society was formed May 
11, 1825, by Christians of various denominations," to 
" circulate religious publications, calculated to bene- 
fit the world and receive the approbation of all evan- 
gelical Christians." " The publishing, distributing, 
and finance committees, together composing the exe- 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 269 

cutive committee, consist of members of six different 
denominations; and their services are wholly gra- 
tuitous." 

This society sells its publications to those who are 
able to purchase, at about first cost, and circulates 
gratuitously among the poor, millions of pages annu- 
ally. This is effected through various agencies, such 
as auxiliaries, travellers, pastors, missionaries, &c. 
But more especially by Colporteurs. 

The system of Colportage is beginning to be ap- 
preciated ; and these plain, humble, devoted men, who 
go from house to house, through the most destitute 
portions of our country, scattering the good seed 
broad-cast over an immense field, leaving a book 
here, and a tract there, accompanied with religious 
conversation and prayer, are doing far more to per- 
petuate our glorious institutions than all our army 
and navy put together. 

The amount of the first year's donations was 
$6,925 56. The donations and legacies the last year 
reached the sum of $109,897 76. The receipts 
for sales, during the same period, were $202,720 33, 
making, including $110 23 in the treasury April 1, 
1850, the total resources $310,728 32. The total ex- 
penditures were $310,619 30. 

There have heen printed during the year 1,040,500 
volumes, 7,931,500 publications, 285,914,500 pages ; 
and circulated 886,692 volumes, 7,837,692 publica- 
tions, 269,984,615 pages. 

*' The New York City Tract Society" is also an 
efficient organization, and very successfully and noise- 
lessly brings into requisition such agencies as are 



270 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

daily blessed to the untold benefit of precious immor- 
tals, ready to perish. 

Now, in view of all these facts, who will not re- 
joice and give thanks that the Great and Good Shep- 
herd had such a regard for his wandering lambs, that 
he moved his servant, the Rev. George Burden, after 
a missionary sermon in the Chapel of the Rev. Row- 
land Hill, London, May 8, 1799, to invite a meeting 
to form a society for printing and distributing reli- 
gious tracts ; which meeting was adjourned until the 
next morning, when the glorious deed was done, and 
which society was the germ from whence have 
sprung all kindred branches. 

Now, reader, you perceive that here is a very good 
beginning in half a century, though much more was 
demanded and ought to have been done. What say 
you, will you bear in mind the decision of the good 
old '' Friend," who, when called upon to aid in build- 
ing a *' Meeting-house" in a certain place, though 
not for his own sect, remarked, " The Lord shall not 
have a house built in my neighborhood, that I do 
not drive a nail in it, and I will give thee " 

Behold ! the great spiritual building is going up. 
What say you? Will you drive a nail in it? Aye, 
one nail is better than none, and if you can spare a 
pound, the building will go up all the sooner. Don't 
forget that. Yes, all the nails you drive here, shall 
by and by beautify the temple to your everlasting 
joy, for they shall be polished and shine like brilliant 
gems, and glittering diamonds in your own spiritual 
habitation. Send in your nails to the American 
Tract Society, 150 Nassau-street, New York. 



HARPER & BROTHERS' PUBLISHING ESTA- 
BLISHMENT. 

I beg leave to notice this well-known establish- 
ment, which every stranger in coming to town would 
do well to visit. The writer was recently much 
interested in going through it. The like cannot be 
seen any where else in this country, if in the world. 
If the reader is not accustomed to visit large book 
concerns, he will very imperfectly apprehend the 
reality from any description that the writer can give 
of this celebrated Book Mill. 

From the gentlemanly proprietors, I obtained some 
statistics which will doubtless interest some portion 
of my readers. But rather than take such a misera- 
ble substitute, you will do far better to go and see 
the reality. They ask nothing for the sight, and if 
they didn't, it would be cheap at that. Moreover, 
the man who goes there to read a little, and turns 
over page after page, in going from room to room, 
and from house to house, will subsequently turn 
over the pages of smaller volumes a little more in- 
telligently. 

The various departments are distributed through 
eight buildings, half of which are four and the re- 
mainder five stories in height. In two large compos- 
ing rooms, thirty-six hands are employed, each of 
whom averages 5,000 ems a day, with four proof 



272 HARPER & brothers' PUBLISHING ESTABLISHIVIENT. 

readers. In a stereotype foundry twelve, hands are 
employed in making stereotype plates, a great im- 
provement in the art of printing, as each plate is 
capable of giving at least 100,000 impressions, and 
only costs about one-third more than ordinary com- 
position. 

There is also a copper-plate and steel-plate print- 
ing room, and a paper room with a large stock, ready 
to fly through the land on the wings of the wind as 
soon as it receives its message. The counting rooms 
are on the first floor, in which eight clerks and three 
book-keepers are employed. The press-rooms have 
forty hands and twenty-seven " Adams Presses.^^ 

It will be recollected that for rapid printing, 
nothing can compete with the " Cylinder Press." 
But iov fine work, the Adams Press takes the palm, 
and for this improved press, our Boston neighbor is 
entitled to much praise. For doing work with a good 
degree of dispatch, and producing a fine artistic ap- 
pearance, this press stands unrivalled. Each press 
can print 6,000 sheets in ten hours. 

In the ware-rooms where the sheets are dried and 
arranged into volumes for binding, the number of 
hands is 150, and the number of hydraulic presses 
three. About fifty hands are employed in the sew- 
ing-rooms. Two large store-rooms are filled with 
books ready for binding. The bindery employs 125 
hands. 

This establishment uses in the course of a year 
fifty-three barrels of the best flour — about the same 
quantity of glue — 14,326 sheepskins, about 40,Q00 
yards of muslin, and can turn out 3,000 books per 



HARPER & brothers' PUBLISHING ESTABLISHMENT. 273 

da^^ And as they use up 120 reams of paper daily, 
and with all their facilities for such an immense busi- 
ness, are under the necessity of still giving out many 
jobs to other establishments ; and from a brief notice 
already given of a few other of the many printing 
w^orks in the city, the reader will see at once, that 
'^ rag picket^ s^^ whom we have already placed almost 
in the front rank of our fellow-citizens, find no incon- 
siderable inducements to rake the gutters. 

The whole number of persons employed in this 
celebrated bookery is between four and five hundred, 
of whom one hundred and forty are females, who do 
their share of the work with neatness and despatch, 
and for which they are well paid, and appear happy, 
and pretty too ; and if all the fair sex only knew how 
much it adds to their charms and good personal ap- 
pearance to be seen in some useful employment, 
there would soon be a hundred and forty more 
knocking at Messrs. Harpers' door, begging the pri- 
vilege of joining the ranks within. 
18 



METHODIST BOOK CONCERN. 

This establishment, which has long prosecuted a 
good work, is extensively known throughout the 
United States. But perhaps some of my readers 
may not be altogether familiar with its operations. 
It publishes nothing but religious books, and is 
strictly a denominational concern. It was estab- 
lished in 1789, in Philadelphia, Pa., by John Dickens, 
who loaned the concern 8600 with which to com- 
mence business. Of course, like almost every other 
good thing, it had a small beginning. 

In 1804 it was transferred to New York. But pre- 
vious to 1824, the concern had no press of its own, 
and depended upon hiring its printing done out of 
the establishment. It now has ten presses in use, 
and employs about two hundred persons, nearly half 
of whom are females. The buildings occupied are 
two in number, each one hundred and twenty-one by 
thirty feet, . four stories high besides the basement. 
Another building, twenty-five by ninety feet, five 
stories high, is about to be added. The amount of 
business done at this establishment is much less 
than at Harpers'. The profits of this concern, which 
amount to about 820,000 annually, are divided 
among the several Conferences in the United States 
for the support of superanuated and supernumerary 
preachers, their wives, and children ; a very worthy 



METHODIST BOOK CONCERN. 275 

distribution. It is strictly a self-supporting concern, 
and under the control of the clergy. For the above 
items I am indebted to one of the gentlemanly assis- 
tants of the establishment. 

There are many other book establishments in the 
city, which are worthy of notice, and which the stran- 
ger in coming to town, will do well to examine. But 
we can at present say little more about books. We 
have not seen all the books in New- York, much 
less have we read them. Many of them probably 
never will be read ; and some of them never should 
be read — while a few are, like dictionaries, not made 
to be read. 



LIBRARIES. 

We may with much propriety say a word about 
Libraries. We have already incidentally spoken of 
several. There are others which claim a special 
notice,. and we would gladly speak in detail of more 
than our limits will permit, for they are fountains of 
intellectual and moral power of no inconsiderable 
importance. 

MERCANTILE LIBRARY. 

From the Twenty-ninth Annual Report of the JMer- 
cantile Librar}^ we obtain the following statistics : 

The number of members is 2,846. Number of 
volumes 31,674. In addition to this large number 
of tomes, the reading-room is supplied with twelve 
American and four foreign daily journals ; fourteen 
American and four foreign weeklies ; twenty- four 
American and twenty-nine foreign monthlies ; and 
twelve American and ten foreign quarterlies ; mak- 
ing in all one hundred and nine publications, which 
ought to add to such a worthy place of resort for our 
young men, an important attraction. 

" Terms of Membership." — " Any person engaged 
in mercantile pursuits as a clerk, may become a 
member of this Association, if approved by the Board 
of Direction, when he shall have subscribed to the 



NEW-YORK HISTORTCAL SOCIETY. 277 



constitution, paid an initiation fee of one dollar, and 
one dollar for the first six months. His further re- 
gular dues shall be thereafter fifty cents, quarterly, in 
advance." 

"Merchants, also, may become members by pay- 
ing 85 annually, but no merchant shall be entitled to 
vote, or be eligible to any office. Persons not engaged 
in mercantile pursuits, if approved by the Board of 
Direction, may be admitted to the use of the Library 
and Reading-rooms, upon the same terms as mer- 
chants." 

Young gentlemen who spend as many leisure 
hours in these reading-rooms as circumstances indi- 
cate, are in a fair way to acquire a reputation which 
will compare very favorably with that gained at the 
bowling-allies, billiard-tables, and sipping-houses ; 
to say nothing about theatres, and other robbers of 
time, money and character. 

Probably our merchants also do well in taxing 
their own pockets for every clerk, fifty cents per 
quarter, to encourage them to become members, and 
walk in the way of wisdom. They seldom make a 
better investment. It is money at compound inter- 
est. 

NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

This institution is deservedly entitled to our con- 
sideration. Having failed of receiving from the Li- 
brarian such statistics as we supposed that we had 
reason to expect, we shall briefly notice this, and also 
the following institution, in the language of Mr. E. 
Porter Belden. 



278 NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

" The New-York Historical Society was organized 
in 1804, by a few public spirited citizens, and the 
foundation of a library soon after commenced by the 
purchase of a collection made by one of the mem- 
bers. 

"In 1814, the Legislature granted free access at 
all times to the documents and records of the State, 
and soon after contributed $12,000 to aid the society 
in procuring books, manuscripts, and other mate- 
rials to illustrate the natural, literary, civil and ec- 
clesiastical history of America. Thus patronized by 
the state, and aided by the contributions and exer- 
tions of the citizens of New-York, the institution has 
been able to collect one of the best historical libra- 
ries in the country. 

" The rooms of the society, in the University, on 
Washington Square, are open exclusively to mem- 
bers, and strangers introduced by members. The 
library at present contains about twelve thousand 
printed volumes, several thousand pamphlets-, two 
thousand maps and charts, and over one thousand 
bound volumes of newspapers, including a regular 
series from the first published in the country, in 1704, 
to the present time. 

" The institution likewise possesses a valuable 
cabinet of coins, medals, busts, portraits and curio- 
sities. Several volumes of collections have been 
published by the society. 

" The stated meetings are held on the first Tues- 
day evening of every month, with the exception of 
July, August and September." 



NEW-YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY. 279 

NEW-YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY. 

This institution is the oldest public library of the 
kind in the United St^ites. It originated in an insti- 
tution founded in 1700, during the administration of 
the Earl of Bellamont, and denominated " The Public 
Library of New York." 

"Various records occur on the minutes of the 
Common Council relative to this library ; the most 
important of which, is the mention of the bequest of 
the Rev. Dr. IMillington, Rector of Newington, Eng- 
land, who gave 1000 volumes to ' the Society for the 
promotion of Christian Knowledge,' for the use of the 
clergy and gentlemen of New-York and the neigh- 
boring provinces. " 

"In 1754, a number of gentlemen undertook to 
establish a library, which they designated ' The New 
York Society Library.' The old 'Public Library' 
having fallen into disuse, the trustees obtained per- 
mission from the corporation of the city to engraft 
their collection on the former. 

" The new library was in successful operation 
when the war of the revolution arrested its progress, 
and scattered many of its treasures beyond the reach 
of recovery. But after the restoration of peace, it 
w^as re-established. 

"In 1754, we find the society in the possession of 
a building, evincing much architectural taste, situated 
in Nassau street, opposite the Middle Dutch Church. 
Here, until the crowding demands of commerce drove 
it further from her domains, the library continued to 



280 THE ASTOR LIBRARY. 

dispense its benefits, and to accumulate gradually a 
collection, now become one of inappreciable value. 

" In 1840, the society entered upon a new phase in 
its progress, by the completion of its present edifice 
on the corner of Broadway and Leonard-street. This 
building, 100 feet long, by 60 wide, is constructed of 
finely-cut brown sand stone, and presents on Broad- 
way a chaste facade of Ionic columns. On passing 
the structure, the eye is arrested by its bold and mas- 
sive front, while the beauty of its proportions, and 
its highly finished masonry, elicit the approbation of 
good taste and critical observation. The cost of the 
ground, building, and furniture was $] 18,000. 

"The society numbers over 1000 members, and 
possesses a library of about 40,000 volumes. The 
terms of membership require a payment of $25 for a 
share, liable to an annual charge of six dollars." 

THE ASTOR LIBRARY. 

This library, which owes its existence to the ge- 
nerosity of its founder, was designed by Mr. Astor to 
be essentially public in its character, and is destined 
to become one of the largest and most useful institu- 
tions of the kind in our country. For some statis- 
tics, I am indebted to the last annual report. 

From an " extract of the third Codicil to the will 
of John Jacob Astor," who died on the 29th day of 
March, 1848, 1 quote the following : 

" I, John Jacob Astor, do make this additional co- 
dicil to my last will, bearing date the fourth day of 
July, in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hun- 
deed and thirty-six. 



THE ASTOR LIBRARY. 281 

" Desiring to render a public benefit to the city of 
New- York, and to contribute to the advancement of 
useful knowledge and the general good of society, I 
do, by this codicil, appropriate/o7ir hundred thousand 
dollars out of my residuary estate to the establishment 
of a public library in the city of New-York.''^ 

" The said sum shall be payable, one third in the 
year after my decease, one third in the year following, 
and the residue in equal sums, in the fourth and fifth 
years after my decease. 

" The said library is to be accessible at all rea- 
sonable hours and times, for general use, free of ex- 
pense to persons resorting thereto, subject only to 
such control and regulations as the trustees may 
from time to time exercise and establish for general 
convenience." 

Of the above liberal sum 875,000 was to be appro- 
priated to the building of a suitable edifice, $25,000 
to the purchase of a lot, $120,000 for the purchase 
of books and other objects for the establishing of the 
library, and the balance, $180,000, was to be invested 
in such manner as the giver directed, as a fund for 
sustaining and increasing the library, the annual in- 
terest of which sum at 6 per cent, is $10,800. "And 
in case the income of the fund shall at any time ex- 
ceed the amounts which the trustees may find useful 
to expend for the purposes above named and parti- 
cularized, they may expend such surplus in procuring 
public lectures, to be delivered in connection with 
the library, upon useful subjects of literature, philo- 
sophy, science, history and the fine arts, or in pro- 



282 THE ASTOR LIBRARY. 



moting, in any other mode, the objects of the institu- 
tion as above expressed." 

The library edifice, which stands on the east side 
of Lafa3^ette Place, is a beautiful and substantial 
brick building 65 feet front by 120 in depth, and is 
about 70 in height, from the foundation to the roof. 
This building is to be completed in the spring of 
1852, and the library will probably be open to the 
public in the following summer. 

The present number of volumes in tho library is 
28,364. The enterprising superintendent of this in- 
stitution, Mr. Cogswell, is now in Europe for the 
purpose of obtaining such rare and valuable works 
as an eye of vigilance can discover, and as money 
can buy, and in due time an important addition may 
be expected. 

Now, who can estimate the value of such an insti- 
tution in our midst, accessible to all, no matter how 
poor? This is another of our bright spots, which 
needs no polishing or praising. 

It may now be proper for us to turn our attention to 
other sources and plans of benevolence for which our 
city is somewhat famous, though a little more repu- 
tation still, would be no disparagement, nor cause of 
regret. 



ASYLUMS. 

ORPHAN ASYLUM. 

This humane institution was incorporated April 7, 
1807. Like most benevolent institutions, its begin- 
ning was on a small scale. The society first com- 
menced their labor of love in a hired house. Since 
that time the location has been twice changed. The 
present edifice and home of the Orphan, was com- 
pleted in 1840, and stands a little back, but in full 
view of the beautiful Hudson, and on that portion 
of the island which is called Bloomingdale, being 
four or five miles from the City Hall. 

The lot on which the building stands, embraces 
nine acres and three-fourths. The edifice is four 
stories high, including the basement, which is all 
occupied. The location is pleasant, healthful, and 
retired. The present number of children is one 
hundred and fifty-nine. 

To see such a company of little ones, without 
father or mother, well-fed, clothed, sheltered, in- 
structed, and every way cared for, is a sight well 
calculated to affect the heart. What a blessed work 
to take up these forsaken, homeless children, and 
furnish them with a better home and better every 
thing, than many of their parents ever provided for 
them. Truly this institution commends itself to the 
sympathy and aid of the community. 



284 HALF ORPHAN ASYLUM. 

" Orphans are admitted into the Asylum until they 
attain the age of ten years, if the Board be satisfied 
that they are proper subjects for this institution. 
Their guardians or connexions must relinquish all 
claim to their future disposal." " No child shall leave 
the Asylum until he has been at least one year under 
the care of the society, and until he can read, write, 
cipher," &c. — {By Laws, Page 8.) 

The boys and girls, when they arrive at suitable 
age, are bound (on trial) to such persons as the Board 
shall approve, the former, until they attain the age 
of twenty-one years, the latter, eighteen years. The 
friends of the Orphans are permitted to visit them on 
the first Monday of every month. The total number 
of children which have been received by this society, 
since its beginning, is 1293, that is, up to the time of 
the last report, for which I am indebted to the insti- 
tution. 

HALF ORPHAN ASYLUM. 

" The society for the relief of half orphan and 
destitute children^' was established December 16, 
1835. Since then, it has steadily and uninterruptedly 
extended its field of usefulness, a work which none 
but those who are familiar with its ceaseless labor 
of love, can fully appreciate. To have one glimpse 
of these well cared-lbr children, at the dinner table, 
in the school-room, or in the sanctuary, is or ought to 
be enough to satisfy any one, and ever}' one, that here 
is an institution which at once commends itself to all 
the wise, rich, and good ; and the tender-hearted, 
liberal-minded well wisher of little helpless ones, 



HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS. 285 

cannot fail to heartily approve of such disinterested 
benevolence. 

True the children of this institution are but half 
orphans, yet who does not know^ that many children 
who have both father and mother, are worse off than 
if they had neither ; while others who have one 
parent, are often wretchedly provided for, or what 
is worse, subjected to an influence ruinously perni- 
cious. 

" The requisite conditions lor admission are, 

** 1st. The death of one parent. 

" 2d. Freedom from all contagious disease. 

" 3d. A promise from the parents to pay fifty cents 
weekly for the board of the child, unless satisfactory 
reasons can be given to the managers why they 
should be exempted. 

" 4th. That the child be not under two nor over 
ten years of age." — {Annual Report.) 

The total number of children which have enjoyed 
the benefits of this humane institution during its 
fifteen years of usefulness, is 1,223. The present 
number is 186. 

HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS. 

The " American Female Guardian Society and 
Home for the Friendless,^'' has been some sixteen 
years carrying forward a good work, and is entitled 
to the co-operation of all those who have silver and 
sympathy for that class to which this institution is 
daily extending important aid. The number of in- 
mates received since 1847 to May, 1850, is, adults, 
1,074, children, 744— total 1,818. 

Now, if the reader should doubt for a moment the 



286 HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS. 

Utility or humanity of this institution, let him just go 
up to the " Home" on east 30th street, near Madison 
Avenue, and see what kind friends, clean beds, airy 
rooms, and well-spread tables are there for those un- 
protected females whose only crime is want of 
shelter, work, and bread, and if he is not then 
thoroughly convinced, he must be marvelously incre- 
dulous. To say that the writer was exceedingly 
gratified to have the privilege of a brief introduction 
to such a Home, is not saying enough, and yet it is 
saying about as much as he has time to say. But 
one word from the " Rulesr 

'* Adult females, of good moral c^fltrac^er, destitute 
of funds, friends, or home, shall be received into this 
institution by order of any two of the managers, 
until their case can he examined, after which, if ap- 
proved as worthy applicants, they shall be boarded 
and employed till suitable places can be found for 
them ; with the understanding, that, in all cases they 
shall conform strictly to the rules of the house, 
accept cheerfully such situations, or service-places 
as may be deemed suitable, and endeavor to acquit 
themselves creditably. All inmates of the institution 
of sufficient age, shall be expected" " to appropriate 
a suitable portion of their time to manual labor while 
they may remain, and to be under the control and 
direction of the Matron." 

" Children for whom admission to the Home is 
desired, should have a permit, signed by a member 
of the Committee or Board." 

"Friendless or destitute girls, under the age of 
sixteen, and over three years of age, and boys under 



ASYLUM FOR AGED INDIGENT FEMALES. 287 

six and over three years old, either orphans, half- 
orphans, or abandoned by their parents, may be re- 
ceived and provided for until permanent homes in 
Christian families can be secured for them by adop- 
tion or otherwise. 

" Hours of rising and retiring, for adults, shall be at 
five o'clock, A. M., and at ten o'clock, p. m., in summer, 
and at six o'clock, a. m., and nine o'clock, p. m., in win- 
ter. The children shall retire soon after supper, and 
rise in season for bathing and dressing before break- 
fast. The matron shall pass through the dormitories 
after the hour of retiring, and see that the lights are 
extinguished, and the lamps removed." ^^ The disci- 
pline of the institution shall be strictly parental in its 
character." The receipts and disbursements during 
the past year amounted to $14,141 69. 

ASYLUM FOR AGED INDIGENT FEMALES. 

The " Association for the relief of respectable aged 
Indigent Females''' has been laboring in a very im- 
portant field for thirty-seven years, and the praise- 
worthy efforts of this institution have not been in 
vain. The Asylum was founded in 1838. The 
report for 1850, and for which I am indebted to the 
institution, presents the following statistics : — 

The family of the Asylum consists of eighty-five 
members, and precisely the same number of aged 
females, termed " out-door pensioners," have also been 
cared for by this society. Of the inmates, during the 
past year, seven have died, whose united ages were 
507 years. Of the out-door pensioners, nine have 
died. One at the advanced age of 105 years, and 



238 ASYLUM FOR AGED INDIGENT FEMALES. 

five others, at 80, 84, 86, 86, and 90 years ; their 
united ages being 531 years — average age 88 J 
years. The rule of the society is to receive none 
but those of the character above stated, nor any 
under sixty years of age. 

The writer visited this " Home for Old Ladies'^ 
about the first of February last, and though his time 
vv^as limited to a short period, yet he saw enough to 
produce a desire and a determination to call again. 
The Matron kindly conducted him through the 
several apartments which were comfortably furnished 
and in good order. 

It being about the dinner hour, I received an invi- 
tation to visit the dining room, the room of all others 
which I most desired to see, and especially at such a 
favorable time. Not so much, however, to see the 
room, or what was on the table, nor even to eat it, 
though it was good enough for the king, as to see 
the guests in such a favorable attitude for exhibiting 
a lively sense of their distinguished comforts. And 
this, for me, was feast enough, to fast the rest of the 
day. 

The company constituted a very respectable fami- 
ly, though many from infirmity and other causes, took 
their meals in their own rooms. I counted fifty at 
the tables which were abundantly spread with fish, 
such as no man, fresh from " Cape Cod," could object - 
to, (for they have fish once a week,) and potatoes 
that would have pleased the palate of " Father Ma- 
thew," and as good bread as bakers know how to 
make, and, to top off* with, a large allowance of rice 
pudding. Many of them looked contented and hap- 



NEW-YORK INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND. 289 

py, and appeared to feel as much at home as it 
is easy for one to feel outside of his or her own cabin. 

To me, it was indeed a blessed thought that so 
many afflicted ones could spend the remainder of 
their days, the decline of life, in peace, at this quiet 
home, and 1 love to call to mind my visit to that 
charitable institution, for it adds much to my stock 
of comfortable thoughts, as often as I do so, and I 
doubt whether any one can visit it and not feel com- 
pelled to admit that he is well paid for his trou- 
ble. 

And now, reader, whether your mother is among 
the number or not, if she is among the living, you 
know not how soon she may be there, and so take 
our advice, and furnish an apartment there, and have 
it ready for her, and should she never need such a 
provision, others will. Put a comfortable bed there, 
and get some good mother's blessing, and see if your 
own bed don't grow softer every night. The first 
man that will try it, and is not satisfied, we will take 
the bed off* of his hands forthwith. 

NEW-YORK INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND. 

This excellent institution was incorporated April 
17, 1831. The plot of ground on which the noble 
building stands, is one entire block, being 800 feet 
long and 200 feet wide, bounded by 33d and 34th 
streets and 8th and 9th avenues. The edifice is 
built of Sing Sing marble, and is three stories high 
and 175 feet in length. 

I had the pleasure of visiting this institution last 
autumn in company with Prof. Geo. F. Root, their 
19 



290 NEW-YORK INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND. 

able instructor in music. I went at a particular 
hour, on purpose to hear them siiig^ and although 
there was a plenty to be seen which was worth see- 
ing, yet there was more just then to be heard, and if 
I was not minus a gift, I would tell the reader what 
it was, although I am not bound to tell him anything 
but what I saw. 

But didn't they sing ? Suffice it to say, I felt much 
inclined to look around for Jenny Lind, knowing that 
she was expected there about that time. Well, let 
her go — they are ready for her, as I can assure the 
reader that they are no strangers to nightingales. 

But as the Blind Authoress, Miss Frances Crosby, 
who is so well and favorably known, kindly furnish- 
ed me (after conducting me through the building) 
with some statistics, w^hich I know will interest the 
reader more than anything which I can add, I take 
pleasure in presenting them. 

" Its location is perhaps one of the most healthy 
on the island ; and under the direction of its excel- 
lent superintendent, James F. Chamberlain, aided by 
the co-operation of an efficient and highly estimable 
board of managers, it may be said to have reached 
the achme of its prosperity. The present number of 
pupils is 116, many of whom are children from eight 
to fourteen years of age. 

" They are instructed in the various branches, such 
as reading, writing, geography, grammar, and arith- 
metic, together with those of a higher order — name- 
ly, moral philosophy, astronomy and rhetoric. 

** Reading is taught by means of raised letters — 
the impression being made upon one side of the page> 



NEW-YORK INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND. 291 

thus enabling the individual to trace it with the fin- 
gers. The faculty acquired in this art is truly as- 
tonishing. Instances have not unfrequently occur- 
red, in which those totally deprived of sight have 
learned the entire alphabet in a single day, and at 
the expiration of two months, have been able to read 
the Bible fluently." 

" The system of educating the blind, differs in many 
respects from that generally pursued in a school of 
seeing children. It is principally oral." 

'^ Arithmetic is taught by means of metallic plates, 
with apertures sufficient to admit a small type some- 
what resembling that used in printing. This type 
or figure, is designed to represent two characters, a 
T and a v. The former being placed at one end, and 
the latter at the other. The t, placed in its natural 
position, represents 1. Turned to the right (^) 2. 
Inverted {jl) 3, and to the left, ( h ) 4. The v, in its 
natural position, represents 5, turned to the left ( > ) 6, 
Inverted, (a) 7, to the right (<) S. The 9 is repre- 
sented by an l, in its proper position, and inverfed 
( T ) it forms a 0. 

'' Music, both vocal and instrumental, is taught 
thoroughly and scientifically, and not as many sup- 
pose by ear. Those who have attended concerts 
given by the Blind, either at the institution or else- 
where, can give ample testimony to the correctness 
and precision with which they have executed some 
of the most difficult pieces. 

" Many of them have graduated, and are employed 
as teachers and organists in our city, and also in va- 
rious parts of the country. In the acquisition of this, 



292 NEW-YORK INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND. 

as well as every other branch, there are many ob- 
stacles to be encountered, and many difficulties to be 
overcome. The deprivation under which they labor 
necessarily obliges them to depend wholly upon their 
memory. Yet with them there is no such word as 
fail, for the}^ have long since learned the truth of the 
old adage, 'Persevere and you shall succeed.' 

"While their intellectual powers are undergoing 
a system of the most careful cultivation, their reli- 
gious instruction is by no means neglected. Many 
of them have become hopefully pious, and have 
united with different evangelical churches. There 
is a chapel connected with the institution in which 
divine service is held every Sabbath. Morning and 
evening worship is conducted by the Superintendent, 
and the strict attendance of every pupil is required. 

" For the benefit of those who may be ignorant of 
the fact, it will be proper to remark that the insti- 
tution is under the patronage of the State, and re- 
ceives 8130 annually for each pupil. Those who 
are in circumstances to pay the amount, are of 
course expected to do so. Those who cannot, may 
be admitted free of expense, if a certificate be pro- 
cured to that effect, by their parents or friends, from 
the Supervisors of the counties to which they be- 
long." 

" We are exceedingly anxious that the reader 
should become more thoroughly acquainted with our 
establishment, and therefore, if he will do us the fa- 
vor to visit us, we will promise to conduct him 
through our various departments, and endeavor to 
explain every thing to his entire satisfaction." 



DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION. 293 

Yes, she may well say that, for when the writer 
visited this noble and highly useful institution, she 
conducted him through the different apartments as 
well as if she had been all eyes, and as fluently des- 
cribed every thing on the way, as if she had been all 
tongue. Hence, he came to the conclusion that she 
could not be " all earsj^ according to the old saying, 
although it was quite evident that there was no defi- 
ciency in these important organs. 

As there are no two classes, in whose welfare the 
community feels a deeper interest than in the Blind, 
and the Deaf and Dumb — and as I have glanced at 
the institution for the benefit of the former, it is very 
proper that I should now bring to view the Asylum 
for the latter ; and, in so doing, brief and imperfect 
as may be the sketch, the writer indulges the hope 
that it will not be altogether unsatisfactory to the 
reader. 

INSTITUTION FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF THE DEAF AND 
DUMB. 

1 visited this noble, this greatly favored, and highly 
successful institution during the past winter, and re- 
ceived from the much esteemed and worthy Presi- 
dent, Harvey Prindle Peet, L.L. D., much valuable 
information, all of which I should be glad to lay be- 
fore my readers, if circumstances would permit. 

This institution received its charter on the 15th of 
April, 1817, and went into operation the following 
spring. Since that time it has been steadily enlarg- 
ing its operations, augmenting its usefulness, and 
increasing in favor with the community, and never 



294 DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION. 

was more prosperous than at the present moment, 
although for a short period it has had to dispense 
with the valuable services of its distinguished Presi- 
dent, who, to acquire more information, if possible, 
touching the most perfect method of developing the 
intellectual powers of the Deaf Mute, left New 
York early the present season, for Europe. While 
we feel satisfied that he is not " to;) old to learn" — 
that if there is any thing valuable there to be picked 
up, he will not return without it — we are equally 
confident that he will never leave the Europeans 
much in their debt, for if he does not lend quite as 
much as he borrows, we are greatly mistaken in the 
man. 

This was one of the first institutions in our coun- 
try to commence the teaching of Deaf Mutes ; and 
we trust that it will be one of the last to discontinue 
so good a work. There is probably no institution of 
the kind which is better conducted than this. None 
more eminently successful and entitled to the sym- 
pathy and hearty co-operation of the community. 
And I am happy to add, that there are few if any, 
more liberally sustained. Indeed there is but one 
opinion concerning its importance, so far as it is fully 
known. 

But possibly some of my readers may have (though 
I hope not) as little definite knowledge of its real 
merits as had the writer previous to visiting it, and 
seeing for himself. Indeed in taking a little pains 
to see what there is in the city worth seeing, 
he will undoubtedly be more benefited than the 
reader. 



TERMS OF ADMISSION. 295 

But a desire to interest the latter, has stimulated 
the former to give a simple, unvarnished notice of 
such institutions and places as it has been convenient 
for him to visit, and he can surely call the reader's 
attention to no institution in the city, v^ith more plea- 
sure than to this. 

The number of pupils in the institution at the time 
of my visit, was 227. Of these 160 v^^ere beneficia- 
ries of the State ; 16 of the City ; 13 of the State of 
New Jersey ; 24 were supported by their friends ; 
and 14 gratuitously by the institution ; these last 
being mostly children. The course of instruction 
embraces a period of seven years. 

TERMS OF ADMISSION. 

1. " Pupils are provided for by the institution in 
all respects, clothing and travelling expenses excepted, 
at the rate of 8130 each, per annum." " Payment is 
required semi-annually in advance, 

2. " The regular time of admission, is at the close 
of the vacation, which extends from the second 
Wednesday of July, to the first Wednesday of 
September." 

3. " No deduction will be made from the annual 
charge in consequence of absence, or on any account 
whatever, except sickness." 

4. " Pupils are at liberty to reside, during the vaca 
tion, in the institution, without charge." 

5. "Applicants for admission to be educated at 
the public expense, should be between the ages of 
twelve and twenty-five years," &c. Other items in 
the terms I shall omit. 



296 DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTFON. 

BUILDINGS. 

" The buildings consist of a principal edifice, 
work-shops — in which book-binding, shoe-making, 
cabinet-making, and tailoring are done by the pupils — 
stables, wash-house, and bathing-house. The prin- 
cipal edifice is a connected building, consisting of a 
centre, sixty by one hundred and ten feet, having five 
stories, divided into a kitchen, bake-room, store-room, 
rooms for the accommodation of the President's 
family ; library, cabinet and office, eleven school- 
rooms, each twenty by twenty-five feet; a chapel, 
occupying the centre of the fourth and fifth stories, 
on each side of which are lodging rooms, capable of 
accommodating one hundred and twent3'-five pupils ; 
two wings, each eighty-five by thirty feet, divided 
into day and evening rooms, lodging-rooms, and 
washing-rooms, and two connecting wings each 
twenty by tv/enty feet, divided into passage ways 
and hospitals. 

" The government is entrusted wholly to the Pre- 
sident, advised by a Board of Directors. In the in- 
tellectual, mechanical, and domestic departments, 
there are eleven teachers, a book-binder, cabinet- 
maker, tailor, shoe-maker, gardener, and laborers ; a 
matron and her assistant, a cook and other female 
domestics. 

" The hour for rising, is uniformly at half-past five, 
in summer ; in winter, half an hour later. Breakfast 
at six or half-past six o'clock ; after which, each 
pupil goes to labor in the shops, the garden, or about 
the house. At nine o'clock the pupils assemble in 



EXERCISES. 297 



the Chapel for prayers, after which they go to their 
respective class-rooms. At twelve o'clock, dinner. 
After dinner they play for an hour. 

" At half-past one o'clock, school is again called. 
At ten minutes to four, prayers are again held in the 
Chapel. The pupils then return to their respective 
occupations and remain till six o'clock, when they 
are called to tea, after which, they are allowed a 
short season of relaxation, when they are called to 
their evening lessons. At nine, the younger portion^ 
of the pupils retire to bed ; the older are permitted 
to sit up till ten. 

" Religious services are held twice in the Chapel 
on Sunday, and the intervals of the day are spent 
in reading, or committing to memory a Sabbath- 
school lesson. 

" Bathing is encouraged, and made imperative 
once a week. 

" The diet consists of the best and greatest variety 
of food. The President, officers, pupils, and domestics 
all fare alike." — {Annual Report.) 

The ^arJen produces an abundance of vegetables, 
and the grounds are ample for physical exercise, em- 
bracing in all ten acres. I am happy to say, that 
exercise, which is so essential to health and life, as 
I have already said, once and again, is here greatly 
encouraged, and we hope that its importance will 
never be lost sight of. 

But I must say a word about my visit to this 
favored spot. It was short, but sweet. My first, but 
not my last. Unceremonious, but not unprofitable. 
Unbidden but not unwelcome. 



298 DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION. 

The reader will readily perceive that. I was highly 
entertained by being informed that I left home at an 
early hour in the morning intending to return at ele- 
ven, and found it no eas}^ matter to break the spell 
in time to get back at one o'clock ; and this was ac- 
complished only by doing violence to my own f cl- 
ings in such a manner as to remind me of some thirs- 
ty mortals being snatched avv^ay from a refreshing 
fountain, after taking one sup. 

The Deaf and Dumib, without instruction, are un- 
questionably in a state of moral, social and intellec- 
tual isolation more deplorablf^ tiian even the blind. 
But the benefits of education to this unfortunate 
class of our fellow-men, are too great to be here des- 
cribed. 

If there are any who grope in doubt and darkness 
on this subject, let them compare one who has been 
instructed in such an institution with one in his na- 
tive ignorance, and we think their incredulity will 
soon become as volatile as darkness before the rising 
-Sun. 

One moment's reflection must convince every in- 
telligent mind that the deaf mute untaught, m.ust ne- 
cessarily have a very narrow range of ideas, for 
where is the man, no matter how good his eyes or 
ears, or how great his fund of knowledge, w-Ao knows 
any more than he has Icdrn.cd ? 

The reader is aware that this class of whom we 
are now speaking, must be taught by signs instead 
of sounds. That they are very apt to learn, is be- 
yond all controversy ; ^nd they^ are the last ones to 
believe that "ij^norance is bliss." 



DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION. 299 

The first class that I visited had been but a few 
months in the institution, and I was greatly gratified 
and not a little surprised to see how much they had 
learned. It was to me delightful beyond description 
to witness their activit}^ teachable dispositions, and 
happy faces. But my time was so limited that I 
could hardly take more than a glimpse. 

I then visited one of the higher classes, and after 
an introduction to the teacher, he introduced his class 
to as awkward a guest as ever got upon the "black- 
board." 

The reader may here ask how I got upon their 
huge slates which stood up all around the room as 
high as their heads. 

Well, the teacher made a few playful turns of the 
hand, which I thought could amount to a little more 
than enough for one word, and as quick as thought 
they flew to their slates, and to let me know that 
they perfectly understood him, even as well as I did 
when he spoke to me in plain English, their nimble 
fingers — and they are remarkably expert in writing — 
had it all down in black and white — who I v/as, 
where I lived, and my object in visiting their institu- 
tion, their "noble institution," as they called it, and 
well they might. Their penmanship was excellent, 
and much of their composition highly creditable ; 
some of them showing talent much above medioc- 
rity. 

Although their thoughts neither came in through 
their ears, nor walked out upon their tongues, yet 
there was no lack of ideas or ability to express them. 
J i\^as so pleased with their apt, ofF-hand, unpremedi- 



300 DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION. 

tated reply to their teacher as the}^ translated what 
was to me unintelligible living hieroglyphics (as I 
knew not the lirst letter of the alphabet), that had 
the author been a little less mixed up in the para- 
graphs, he would gladly give the reader the benefit 
of them. At any rate when they said that they 
hoped that I would give a good report of their noble 
institution, I must say that I felt very much inclined 
to adopt the language of" Sam Slick." 

As a specimen of their ability to express their 
thoughts in writing, the following composition will 
probably satisfy the reader. It is taken from the 
Annual Report of 1850. The pupil who wrote it, 
had been only four j^ears under instruction, and we 
think that few children with as limited a season of 
instruction, and as good tongues and better ec/r.?, will 
be likely to produce a better specimen. 

" AN IMAGINARY CONVERSATION BETWEEN A FLY AND A 
BEE." 

**One day a poor fly, while passing a bee-hive full 
of honey, in a beautiful garden, was perceived by a 
bee which proudly flew at it and insultingly said, 
* Why do you come here ? You design to steal my 
honey.' 

" The fly replied, *I do not wish to steal it, but feel 
a desire to learn how to make honey as you do.' 

" The bee answering, said, ' You are such a dirty 
insect, that it is impossible for you to make it. You 
must not come near my hive, because you have de- 
voured almost every bad thing ; but I have always 
sucked sweet beautiful flowers, and I have made ho- 



DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION. 301 

ney of them.' The bee continued to say, 'Most peo- 
ple love bees more than flies, for they are useless, 
and can make nothing ; they are also very trouble- 
some to all creatures.' 

"The fly was than full of anger, and said, 'You 
have a long sharp sting, and yon cruelly sting many 
persons, and cause the wound to swell, very much 
like a noxious snake. It is very dangerous to sting. 
I, however, have never been cruel to any one since I 
was born.' 

" The bee said to the fly, ' I have a strong natural 
propensity to sting, when any one provokes me. 
God gave me a sharp sting to defend myself with it ; 
but if I am no.t attacked, I do not sting. If you had 
a sting, you would do much more harm than I. You 
always get into mischief, and fall into milk, molasses, 
butter, &c. While people are partaking of refresh- 
ments, flies rush and devour it like dogs, and inter- 
rupt the people so much that they cannot eat. You 
creep on their faces and make them uneasy. You 
are very impolite and rude.' 

" The fly replied, ' You are quite as troublesome 
as I, for you often enter a house, creep about the 
window, and frighten the people so much that they 
endeavor to catch you with a pair of tongs, and pitch 
you into the flre.' 

" The bee, on hearing this, was much enraged, and 
said, ' You are too lazy to build a house of your own, 
and ramble everywhere. It seems as if you were a 
vagabond. You will soon die when the. weather be- 
gins to be cold." 

"The fly replied, 'I shall become torpid and rest 



302 METHOD OF INSniUCTING TIJii DEAF AND DUMB. 

till spring*. I Shall live again. It is not necessary 
for me to work. I hate to see a bee of such great 
pride and boastful ness.' 

" The bee replied, 'Well, you are right in thinking 
that I am proud. You are certainly jealous of me.' 

" The fly said, ' No, I am not, but you are such a 
passionate creature, I do not wish to talk with you 
any longer.' 

" The bee said, ' Never provoke me, and I will al- 
ways be kind to you ; but if you do provoke me, I 
will kill you.' 

"The fly replied, 'I will continue to talk to you as 
I please.' So the angry bee stung the fly so much 
that it laid the poor insect dead. E. L." 

Since writing the above, a communication from a 
gentleman who was recently a pupil, but who is now 
a teacher in this institution, has been received, con- 
taining a clear, brief and intelligible account of the 
present mode of instructing deaf mutes; and with 
pleasure we lay it before our readers, as it will serve 
a two-fold purpose. It not only unfolds to some ex- 
tent, the present method of teaching in the institu- 
tion, but it shows conclusively that the writer, al- 
though deprived of holding intercourse with the sur- 
rounding world through the medium of sound, is ne- 
vertheless better prepared to communicate his ideas, 
than many who are blessed with all the natural fa- 
culties. 

" METHOD OF INSTRUCTING THE DEAF AND DUMB. 

" Many gentlemen and ladies who come to this 
benevolent institution for the purpose of viewing the 



METHOD OF INSTRUCTl?'^G THi: DEAF AXD DUMB. 303 

exercises of the deaf mates, and the internal arrange- 
ments of the institution, frequent!}- express a strong 
desire to know the elementary process by which this 
important work is commenced. 

" T imagine that those who visit the institution for 
the deaf and dumb, ask these two questions — ' How 
can deaf mutes learn, without the aid of hearing? 
How do you commence teaching them?' 

" Some of the deaf and dumb are born without the 
faculty of hearing ; and a majority of them are de- 
prived of hearing, either in infancy, or in childhood, 
by almost an endless variety of diseases and acci- 
dents. They, when they are placed in common- 
schools, are unable to learn without using the 
language of gesticulation. Sometimes they are edu- 
cated by means of articulation ; but they cannot well 
acquire a knowledge of spoken language. 

" It is easier to communicate knowledge by panto- 
mimic language to deaf mutes, than to teach them 
how to read on the lips of their master. The lan- 
guage of signs is so expressive and intelligible, that 
the deaf mutes seem to have the ability to hear 
through their eyes. When a pupil entering into the 
institution, is brought into the school-room where a 
class of young pupils is assembled, the teacher en- 
deavors to establish some kind of intercourse with 
him by showing him some moveable objects, and ques- 
tioning him concerning their uses. 

" A book for instance, is presented to him, and he 
is asked what it is for. He answers by a look of 
wonder. The inquiry is varied, and the teacher asks 



304 METHOD OF INSTEUCTING THE DEAF AND DUMB. 

him, by gestures, if the book can be eaten. He 
answers in the negative, by shalfing his head. 

" The pupil is again questioned about its use. If 
he catches the idea, bringing the iiands together 
spread out with the palms upwards to represent an 
open book, he indicates its use by running the eyes 
from one side to the other, as if in the act of reading. 

" A key, is represented by the act of turning the 
hand, in imitation of locking or unlocking; a knife, 
by whetting ; a pen, by writing ; a watch, by putting 
it to the ear, or imitating the hands over the dial, 
and a hat, by putting it on the head. 

" The teacher writes on one of the large slates, the 
name of an object. The pupils have no conception 
of its meaning. A pupil is called from another class. 
The teacher points to the name and the pupil points 
to the object. 

" Other words are then written down, and the ob- 
jects respectively pointed out. After the pupils have 
obtained the ideas of them, one of them begins to 
point to the names and objects, when they receiv'C 
ideas from this course in connection with the panto- 
mimic signs of the teacher. 

** A book entitled the * Elementary Lessons,' pre- 
pared by the President, containing the Manual 
Alphabet, or an engraved representation of the diffe- 
rent positions of the hand and fingers, denoting the 
letters of the alphabet ; easy lesson in each of which 
five or six engravings of common objects are repre- 
sented, and simple words, phrases, and sentences 
printed, is given to the pupils. 

" They are taught the Manual Alphabet, the cor- 



METHOD OF INSTRUCTING THE DEAF AND DUMB. 305 

respondence between the written and printed cha- 
racter, and then to form letters with a crayon. A 
word of three or four letters — the names of some ob- 
jects, such as a hat, a dog, a goat, a horse, &c., is 
written on the slate. The pupils are required to spell 
it repeatedly on the fingers, as a hearing child re- 
peats words in its spelling-book, till the words are 
retained in its mind. 

The teacher, by pointing to the names of objects, 
or by spelling them on the fingers, calls forth the ap- 
propriate gestures from them. The pupils are sum- 
moned to the large slates, arranged around the room, 
and, with craj^ons prepared for the purpose, taught 
to write. The pupils observe the teacher with their 
eyes closely fixed on him while he expresses by signs, 
a horse, by placing the two fingers of the hand on 
each side of the head, and moving them in imitation 
of the horse's ears. They, receiving the idea of this 
sign, immediately write the word on the slate, and so 
in like manner, other words which they have learned. 

" Adjectives denoting color, shape, and size, are 
added to substantives. Appropriate signs are made, 
indicating such qualities as black, white, red, long, 
short, thick and thin. These words in adjectives, 
placed before nouns, are written on the slate by the 
teacher, and illustrated by signs ; and the pupils 
commit them to memory by means of the manual 
alphabet, and then recite them in written language. 

^' In this way the pupils advance step by step, from 
the simple to the more difiicult parts of language, till 
they have acquired a knowledge of the proper use of 
language in all its variety of forms. They obtain 



S06 



METHOD OF INSTRUCTING THE DEAF AND DUMB. 



such an acquaintance with the various phrases of 
languages, by much practice and care in reading, 
that they are able to express their thoughts freely, in 
correct language. 

" I should inform you that Messrs. Clerc, Loring, 
Spofford, Carlin, and other distinguished deaf mutes, 
have made proficiency in the acquisition of language, 
and can write as elegantly as many intelligent 
speaking people. 

" The art of teaching deaf mutes through the 
medium of signs, leads us to admire the power and 
wisdom of our Almighty Maker who has placed 
benevolent institutions for the deaf and dumb on the 
earth by the influence of his word." 

" I. H. B." 



A a 



MANUAL ALPHABET. 

B b 




D.d 






C c 




Ff 




MANUAL ALPHABKT. 



307 




S s 




T t 




U.VL 




\>/ 



308 



BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. 



Vv 



Wa ^^ 







There are many other benevolent societies and in- 
stitutions which are well worthy of notice in our 
goodly town. But to speak of them all in detail, 
would altogether extend the volume beyond our in- 
tended limits. Some of the principal and most im- 
portant ones, together with those which I have no- 
ticed, will be found in the table below. 



BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS OF THE CITY OF NEW-YORK. 

Institution for the Blind. 
Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. 
Bloomingdale Asylum for the Insane. 
Magdalen Female Benevolent Asylum 
New-York Orphan Asylum. 
Catholic Orphan Asylum. 

Do. Half-Orphan Asylum. 
Mariners' Family Industrial Society. 
Protestant Half-Orphan Asylum. 



BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. 309 

Leake and Watts Orphan House. 

Colored Orphan Asylum. 

Colored Home. 

Sailors' Home. 

Asylum for Respectable, Aged, Indigent Females. 

Home for Sailors' Children. 

House of Industry and Home for the Friendless, 

Home for Discharged Prisoners. 

House and School of Industry. 

Society for the Relief of Widows and Orphans of 

Medical Men. 
Ladies' Union Aid Society. 
Mariners' Family Industrial Society. 
Asylum for Friendless Boys. 



DIVERSITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES. 

In this city may be found, as I have already inti- 
mated, almost every modification of character, con- 
dition and pursuit. Some put their best foot forward, 
and some their worst ; for it can hardly be denied 
that some actually appear worse in some respects 
than they really are ; while in that deception which 
is the most common the world over, the great ma- 
jority are possibly largely involved. Ah, yes, many 
who at the first view appear to be almost without 
faults, are almost or altogether destitute of every- 
thing else. 

But this is not all. A man's condition in town, as 
well as everywhere else, is greatly modified by the 
view he takes of it. Some are actually more happy 
in barracks and garrets, than others are in glittering 
palaces and towering mansions, surrounded by a re- 
tinue of servants, whose enjoj^ments are often greater 
than their masters', notwithstanding the latter roll in 
wealth, and lounge on velveted divans to inherit ma- 
nia, gout, dyspepsia, and hypocondriasis. 

Some in town are rich without a dollar, and others 
are miserably poor with gold and silver enough to 
crush them. 

I have seen old men at thirty, and young men at 
seventy. 

I have heard men of little sense and less virtue 



VICTIMS TO FOLLY. 311 

extolled for their wisdom, and praised for their good 
deeds, while the wise and upright were denounced as 
fools and bigots. 

VICTIMS TO FOLLY. 

I have seen men go on headlong in business as 
though they would drive all before them, but 
it was soon evident that they were driving down 
hill ! 

I have seen individuals who seemed to be so con- 
stituted that it made them unhappy to see any man 
have a larger house, a faster horse, a swifter dog, a 
better coat, or a brighter button. I have moreover, 
seen them exchange a convenient, comfortable dwell- 
ing, for a larger and possibly more splendid, and 
positively more expensive edifice, where to their great 
disappointment they took far less comfort than be- 
fore, and where, to their shame and ruin, the redjiag^ 
that significant emblem, soon fluttered in the wind 
over their door, advertising an auction^ and telling 
their creditors that they were lucky if they got fifty 
cents on a dollar. And I thought of Franklin's con- 
clusion in regard to buying the whistle. 

I have seen individuals determined to follow the 
fashion, no matter how expensive, no matter how ri- 
diculous, no matter how pernicious to health. And, 
more than this, I have seen them sicken and die, vic- 
tims to their own folly ! 

I have seen men go on increasing their dominions, 
spreading themselves out " like a green bay-tree," 
adding dollar to dollar, and lot to lot, and house to 
house, heaping up treasure and hoarding up wealth, 



312 VICTIMS TO FOLLY. 

with which to ruin their children and distract them- 
selves. They frequently begin the world with nothing 
but good health and good habits, and too often leave 
their offspring without either, because they have 
sadly neglected to train them up in the way that they 
should go. 

True, these successful citizens intend that all their 
prosperity shall largely contribute to their children's 
welfare ; but the future too often discloses their mis- 
take. When it is too late, they discover that they 
have exhibited more sagacity in obtaining means 
with which to foster pride, and encourage idleness, 
dissipation, and prodigality, than in inculcating right 
principles and habits. And without any " guessing," 
I hesitate not in the least to say that there are more 
than ten thus ruined in the city, to one in the coun- 
try. 

But perhaps the reader may say, " Give us an ex- 
ample." Well, enough could be given to fill a vo- 
lume. One, however, will suffice. 

A certain down-town merchant who had been 
greatly prospered in business, took into co-partner- 
ship with him, two sons. The older son, in addition 
to his share of the profits, received annually ten thou- 
sand dollars for entertaining their customers, friends 
and others with dinners, suppers, champagne, &c. 

At length the father said to his sons, " Well, I have 
made money enough, and therefore I do not wish any 
of the profits of the concern ; so take it and make as 
much for yourselves as you can. Here is a splendid 
business, long established. You have plenty of ca- 



VICTIMS OF FOLLY. 313 



pital ; no debts to trouble you — no bank notes to pay 
and nothing to fear." 

But, alas ! it was not long before the father be- 
came sensible that he had something to fear ! Nei- 
ther was it long before he advertised the dissolution 
of the co-partnership, and re-entered the counting- 
room to discharge existing obligations, and save the 
reputation and retain the business of the house. 

But could he as easily re-establish a good charac- 
ter for his sons ? No, never ! Money had no power 
to do that. 

As it had been the cause of a sad departure from 
the path of safety, it could not well become the cure. 
He had unwittingly laid the foundation for a misera- 
ble superstructure ; and no expostulation, warning, or 
tears, could now prevent the most disastrous conse- 
quences. Rum and ruin. Doctor's and delirium 
tremens, disgrace and distress were the fearful wit- 
nesses to the folly of the misguided father. 

I have seen a young man, a little less than twenty- 
one, who was flattered and followed, both day and 
night, by many professed friends. He lived but a 
short distance from the writer, and was known to 
him personally. But why had he so many admirers ? 
Was it because he was virtuous, industrious, tempe- 
rate, and useful ? 

Far otherwise. Not one of these traits did he 
possess ; though he might have possessed them all, 
had it not been for the folly of his grandfather, who 
left for him a large fortune, upon which he had 
already begun to draw. But neither did the money 
or the man last long. Delirium tremens hurried to a 



314 VICTIMS TO FOLLY. 



drunkard's grave, and his poor widowed mother 
quickly foUov^^ed her ruined son ! 

" But no matter for this," many seem to say, and 
while they even stand upon the grave's mouth, cry, 
*' Rum, rum ! No matter how many tears, and 
groans, and broken vows, and broken hearts — no 
matter who lives — who dies — only give us a little 
more money and a little more rum /" 



DEATH-BED SCENES. 

I have seen men bid adieu to the joys and sorrows 
of earth, under a variety of circumstances. Stran- 
gers sometimes come to town to do the business of a 
day, or a week, and are suddenly and unexpectedly 
prostrated by disease, and hurried to the tomb. Not 
however, because the city is prejudicial to life, 
so much, as because their " time is up," as the poor 
maniac said, in the " Tombs" after hanging himself. 

Others, who live to a good old age, and hardly 
breathe outside the city, leave the town almost or 
quite, for the first time, as they fly away to the spirit- 
land. 

Some die among strangers, yet surrounded with 
sympathizing friends. Others leave the world in the 
midst of kindred, and leave more behind to rejoice 
than mourn. 

A greater diversity of circumstances, and a more 
frequent approach of the " King of terrors," was per- 
haps never experienced in this city than in the 
Cholera 3^ear 1849, when, from all diseases, the aver- 
age mortality for the j^ear was one death in every 
twenty-two minutes and tw^enty seconds, and for two 
weeks, one death in every seven minutes and fourteen 
seconds ! 



316 DEATH-BED SCENES. 



DEATH OF A STRANGER. 

I once saw a poor man suddenly cut down by dis- 
ease, under circumstances somewhat trying. He 
was a stranger in a strange land. He had neither 
kindred to sympathize with him during his suffer- 
ings, nor friends to mourn for him, after his depar- 
ture. 

But he had one to watch for the last breath, as a 
hungry shark waits and watches for the lifeless 
corpse. 

I found him in a garret, sitting up in bed, laboring 
under very difficult respiration, and although it was 
at once apparent that he was in a critical condition, 
yet I did not suspect his end to be so near. 

Soon after my arrival, he turned his attention to 
the woman with whom he was boarding, and began 
to give directions concerning his burial, &c. She 
tried to persuade him that he was not going to die, 
and endeavored to turn his thoughts in another 
direction. 

But he knew better than that, and steadily perse- 
vered as he was able to speak. He told her how 
and where he wanted to be buried — how to dispose 
of his watch, clothes, &c., naming certain individuals 
with whom he had become partially acquainted, 
although but a few weeks in the new world, and to 
whom he desired to give the articles mentioned. He 
then said, " Pay the doctor out of my money which 
you have in your possession, and keep the rest your- 
self," all of which she promised to do, and he laid 
down, and was dead in less than ten minutes ! 



DEATH-BED SCENES. 317 

At that moment, a man came in, her husband per- 
haps, though I know not that she had any, and I 
hope that she had not, and she said to him, ^' See ! 
this man is dead, and he told me, the last thing that 
he said, that I should have all his things for my 
trouble, and the doctor heard him ;" and as she ap- 
pealed to me to sanction as black a lie as was ever 
told, I must confess that I was so thunderstruck at 
her audacious robbery, that instead of disputing her 
over the dead body not half cold, I hurried away out 
of her sight, and was afterwards provoked with 
myself that I neglected to have her arrested. 

I have also seen the rich, both old and young, 
sicken and die, while surrounded by friends, physi- 
cians, kindred, comforts, and every desirable agent 
that earth could furnish. Every thing that it was 
possible for man to do, v/as done to preserve the 
" brittle thread of life ;" yet death w^as too much for 
all. " The silver cord was loosed, the golden bowl 
was broken, the pitcher broken at the fountain, and 
wheel broken at the cistern," and " the mourners 
went about the streets." 

I have seen a little one who was too young to 
know aught of the destiny of mortals, or the wages 
of sin — fade away under the withering touch of the 
** King of Terrors," like a tender bud nipped by a 
premature frost. I have heard him cry and moan 
with a solemn tone — have felt the unnatural beating 
of a struggling, fluttering heart ; and as he drew 
nearer and still nearer to the gates of death, I have 
seen the father with aching heart drop a tear, and turn 



318 DEATH-BED SCENES. 



aside to roll ofi^ a portion of his burden upon Him 
who has an ear to hear, and is might}^ to save. 

I heard the stricken mother, sigh, and cry aloud in 
anguish of spirit, "O Savior of the World, have 
mercy on my child !" and she walked the room, and 
wrung her hands, and kissed her babe, and watched 
and wept, and groaned, and prayed, and said, " What 
shall I do ?" while the little sufferer panted on, breath- 
ing shorter and shorter, and growing weaker and 
weaker. 

The house, almost as still as the grave, except an 
occasional outburst of grief — a whisper from the 
nurse, or a stifled sigh, appeared unlike surrounding 
habitations, while the voice of death seemed to ac- 
company the noiseless footsteps of every attendant, 
and the dim glimmering, half-extinguished flame of 
the gas-burner, threw over the patient, spectators, 
and every thing present, such lurid rays as seemed 
mournfully appropriate, where the lamp of life had 
almost ceased to burn ! 

The physician did all that he could do, and friends 
and attendants did all that they could do to keep the 
tender lamb a little longer in the dark, cold, perilous 
valley of earth ; but Death, the best friend of all, 
opened the gate, and welcomed the little sufferer 
into the Paradise of God, but left the bereaved 
parents behind, to morn their loss, of which they 
were prone to be more sensible, than of its gain. 

Although it is hard, very hard, for parents to part 
with their tender offspring — to cover them up in the 
dark, cold grave, to moulder in the dust; yet whenever 
I see a little one cut down, and hurried away from 



DEATH-BED SCENES. 319 



this unfriendly, sinful, selfish world, I feel almost con- 
strained to cry out, a happy escape, and feel that it 
would be a sin to wish it back. 

I once witnessed a death-bed scene in the city that 
I shall not soon forget. The sufferer was a lovely 
boy about six years of age, the son of a worthy phy- 
sician. 

It had been remarked, prior to his illness, that he 
was no ordinary child. He took a deep interest in 
Missions, and all benevolent institutions : more es- 
pecially the Sabbath School enterprise. He had a 
sweet disposition, pure spirit, and heavenly tempera- 
ment. But at no time did the heaven-born spirit 
within, exhibit its lovely traits in such a glorious and 
touching manner, as during the hours of extreme 
bodily suffering. I felt that the place contained the 
inhabitants of Heaven, even ministering spirits. 

Moreover, I was conscious that it was such a scene 
as I might never again witness, and was, therefore, re- 
luctant to leave the spot. Accordingly, although aware 
that I could be of very little service to the poor, suf- 
fering boy, I proposed to stay with him through the 
night, and felt that it was a privilege that my servi- 
ces were accepted. 

That night was a night by itself I have seen 
brighter nights, and darker nights — nights of greater 
joy, and deeper grief. But I never saw such a 
night. 

Probably the reader is aware that one of the most 
distressing maladies with which poor mortals ever 
suffer, and especially the young, is the croup. This 
was the terrible disease which had been commission- 



320 DEATH-BED SCENES. 

ed to tear down the clayey tabernacle, and remove 
the spirit — too pure for earth to longer tarnish, to a 
brighter abode. 

To die of croup, is to be suffocated by inches. The 
disease is inflammation of the windpipe, which gra- 
dually and entirely closes it, so that breathing ulti- 
mately becomes as much impossible as if the person 
was hung up by the neck. 

But, notwithstanding his intense suffering, I scarce- 
ly ever saw a patient, old or young, so composed and 
uncomplaining. He was as patient as a lamb, and 
conducted like a man ripe for heaven. Indeed his 
name was already registered there, in the Book of 
Life. I did not, and do not doubt it. 

From the nature of his disease it was very difficult 
for him to speak. While his father, mother, and my- 
self were standing around his bed, in breathless anxie- 
ty, he suddenly raised his head and whispered forth a 
request which was, that an absent member of the 
family might be called in. Although we knew not 
the object of the request, it was quickly granted. 

When the individual arrived, he kissed her and 
bade her good bye. Then, he deliberatel}^ called for 
another, and kissed, and affectionately parted with 
that individual in the same way. And thus he pro- 
ceeded until he had given every member of the house- 
hold, ten or a dozen, a parting kiss, in the most affec- 
tionate and solemn manner. All this was of his own 
accord, as not a word had been said to him on the 
subject. 

After this, his father and mother retired to an ad- 
joining room to get a little rest, and I carefully 



DEATH-BED SCENES. 321 



watched the receding tide of life, without perceiving 
any very marked change, for perhaps two hours. At 
length I thought the time of his departure had ar- 
rived, and accordingly called his parents. He made 
a motion to be raised up, and his father took him up 
in his arms, and carried him into an adjoining room, 
and he lifted his radiant eyes, pointing upward, and 
said, " Father, see the angels.^^ I thought that the 
dear boy was expiring in his father's arms, though 
he again revived. 

But he is no longer within the reach or region of 
suffering. The little seraph is chanting heavenly 
anthems where the weary are at rest. Blessed little 
angel, sing on, for "mortality is swallowed up of 
life." Sing on with sweet and countless voices, the 
blessed angels did conduct thee home. Sing on, sing 
praises forever more to Him whom thou didst love in 
life, and trust in death, and meet in glory everlast- 
ing. For a little season, blessed boy, farewell. Hap- 
py George, farewell. 
21 



GREENWOOD CEMETERY. 

In conclusion, it may be proper to turn our thouglits, 
for a moment, whither we are all tending, namely, to 
the tomb. And no resting place for those who slum- 
ber in the dust, can be more appropriately noticed on 
the present occasion, than "Greenwood Cemetery," 
although it is not in New York, being on Long 
Island, about four miles from the city, and near to the 
suburbs of Brooklyn. 

It is well, for more reasons than one, to have such 
a sacred spot removed from the bustling, intruding 
disturbing multitude. 

For those of my readers who have visited this spot, 
which has become so celebrated for its beauty and 
fitness for the purposes for which it has been set 
apart, I have nothing to offer that will be new. For 
those w^ho have been less favored, the following 
brief and imperfect sketch is designed. 

This lovely, consecrated spot, where the old and 
the young, in unbroken and unconscious silence, 
slumber and moulder, is highly picturesque in its 
appearance, and strikingly and invitingly beautiful, 
as it appears in nature's loveliest attire, to the ad- 
miration of all who visit it, especially in the sum- 
mer season. 

This city of the dead was chartered in 1838, and 
the grounds were opened for interments in 1842. It 



GREENWOOD CEMETERY. 323 

is a public Institution, unconnected with any pur- 
poses of profit or gain to any individual whatsoever. 
All the receipts of the Institution must be expended 
in improving the grounds, &c. 

The grounds contain over 250 acres, composed 

of hills and dells, lakes and vales, lawns and 

groves, and cliffs and mounds, together with almost 

umberless labyrinthine a, venues, in which it is 

auch easier for the traveller to lose his way than 

o find it. 

The size of an ordinary burial lot is 12 by 25 feet, 
tvith an allowance of an extra foot on the margin 
.or the purposes of inclosure. Such a lot costs $110. 
Half lots can be obtained at proportionate rates. 
The form of the lot varies according to circum- 
stances. Lots for single graves for adults are sold 
at 810, and for children under ten years of age, $5, 

The ground is exempt from all taxes, and q^ot sub- 
ject to any assessment for improvements, and hence 
the proprietor cannot be forcibly deprived of his pos- 
session, though he has a perfect right to sell, at his 
pleasure. 

Although this lovely spot has not yet been occu- 
pied ten years by earth's silent sleepers, yet it contains 
the last remains of many loved and cherished ones, 
and day by day receives the out-gushing memo- 
rials of affection, while others are gently borne to 
the bosom of the cold and insatiable grave. 

In the year 1805, thecity of New-York contained a 
population of 75,770. Since that time up to January, 
1851, there have been 279,148 interments, or more 
inhabitants buried than the city contained as late as 



324 GREENWOOD CEMETERY. 

1835, and more than any other city in the Union now 
contains, with one exception. Such solemn and de- 
cisive proof of our mortality, seems to say, select a 
proper place for your dead, and " bury them out of 
your sight." 

On this lovely spot may be seen many monuments 
of great beauty and appropriate design. But in 
looking at these works of art, one is sometimes re- 
minded of the folly which is so frequently exhibited 
by living mortals who spare no time or expense in 
beautifying a spot for a handful of dust and ashes, 
•while they make no provision for the immortal spi- 
rit, which, with ever-expanding and ever-enduring 
capacity, will forever strive in vain to fully compre- 
hend the cost and consequences of such a fatal, wo- 
ful mistake. 

Among the monuments of Greenwood Cemetery 
there are none which attract more attention than 
that which points out the resting-place of Charlotte 
Cauda. 

Miss Cauda was a young lady of superior attain- 
ments, and lovely disposition, as many in the city 
very well know, and while returning home from the 
festive enjoyments of a small part}^ of friends, on the 
evening of her seventeenth birth-day, her sudden and 
unlooked-for death cast a shade of gloom over the 
community. 

Her father left the carriage to accompany a young 
friend of hers into her residence, while she remained 
in the vehicle ; but before he returned, the horses 
took fright and ran away, while the driver was stand- 
ing on the side-walk, and as they turned the cor- 



GREENWOOD CEMETERY. 325 

ner of one of our streets, she either fell out, or 
jumped out, and was killed, almost instantly. 

The principal features of Miss Canda's monument, 
it is said, were sketched by herself, though intended 
as a tribute to a friend. The expense of the Mauso- 
leum, it is supposed, was about #25,000. 

"The extent and magnificence of the work, the 
variety and richness of its details, its significant and 
symbolic sculpture, its profusion of ornament — in 
fine, its lavish beauty, and ungrudged expense, could 
not fail to make it an object of strong attraction," 
and " in it were seen the records of grief too vast for 
utterance." — {Greenwood Directory.) 

But as I have already far exceeded the intended 
limits of this work, I must draw to a close. The 
highest points of this beautiful and sacred spot, com- 
mand a magnificent view of neighboring cities, love- 
ly islands, the noble and capacious bay, and the sur- 
rounding country ; and every way it is justly entitled 
to the admiration of the spectator, whether citizen or 
stranger. 

But, after all. Greenwood Cemetery is but a very 
feeble representation of earth's great grave-yard. 
Wherever we go, the dust which cleaves to our feet, 
settles upon our garments, or floats upon the breeze, 
has, for aught we can tell, formed an important part 
of the eye which once sparkled with lustrous beau- 
ty — or the cheek which oft received a mother's kiss ; 
the tongue, whose eloquence charmed the ear, or the 
muscular arm before which, the mighty quailed. 
The unchangeable decree, " Dust thou art, and unto 
dust shalt thou return," is still sweeping to the gap- 



326 GREENWOOD CEMETERY. 

ing tomb, generation after generation in rapid suc- 
cession with irresistible power, and those who slum- 
ber in the dust, vastly outnumber the living, and ever 
will, until that glorious morn when all the unforgot- 
ten myriads of countless mortals shall hear the blast 
of the life-giving trumpet, and earth and sea at once 
give up their dead, both small and great, and every 
one of Adam's race stand forth with a living, spiri- 
tual, imperishable body. That will be a glorious 
day, not only to airthe wise and good, who shall have 
stood in their lot and place on Manhattan Island, but 
to all such as shall have finished their day of proba- 
tion in the triumphs of faith, no matter from whence 
their dust shall be gathered, nor in what way it shall 
be united to form a glorious habitation for the thrice 
happy spirit. O, the blessedness of that Gospel 
which brings life and immortality to light. 

** There is a land of pure delight. 

Where saints immortal reign, 
Infinite day excludes the night. 

And pleasures banish pain.** 



BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBF & MILLER. 

Headley's Women of the Bible: Historical and 
descriptive sketches of tlie Women of the Bible, as maidens, 
wives, and mothers; from Eve of the Old, to the Marys of 
the New Testament: by Rev. P. C. Headley, in one 12mo. 
volume, illustrated — uniform with " Headley's Sacred 
Mountains." $1,25. 

The author of this work possesses enough traits of resemblance to the author of 
the Sacred Mountains, to leave no doubt of his right to the name of Headley. There 
is much of that spirited descriptive power, which has made the elder brother a 
popular favorite, and gives promise of a successful career on his own account. The 
sketches are brief, and embody all the historic incidents recorded of them.— New 
York Evangelist. 

A younger brother of J. T. Headley is the author of this beautiful volume. It will 
Drobably have a larger circulation than the splendid work issued last fall by the 
Mef'srs. Appleton, being better adapted for the general reader, in form and price, 
while it is ornamental enough for the cenlre table. It contains nineteen descriptive 
biographical sketches, arranged in chronological order, including nearly all the 
distinguished women of the sacred annals, and forming an outline of Scripture 
history. The illustrations are from original designs, and are numerous and appro- 
Criaie. No ordinaxy powers of imagination and expression are shown in the vivid 
and picturesque descriptions ; and the fine portraitures of character rivet the 
interest, and set forth the Scripture delineations in a stronger light. Li this respect 
the book has no rival, for no other is so complete, following so closely at the same 
time, the sacred narrative. We hope it is but an earnest of other works from the 
pen of its gifted author. — Home Journal. 

We were so struck with the title of this work, and the prepossessing appearance 
of its typography, that we have so far departed from the usual course adopted in 
like cases, as to read carefully the work in hand, before recornrnending it to our 
readers. And we are prepared to say, that a more attractive volume haa "xot fallen 
in our way for a long time. It is made up of brief historicarand descriptive eulogies 
of the most I'emarkable females of a most extraordinary era in the world'« history. 
The author has appropriated very much of the poetry and romance of the Qible, in 
the sketches he has given of nineteen women, who have come down to U9 ""hrough 
their peculiar merits, embalmed in sacred inspiration. Whoever reads the "tory of 
Sarah, the beautiful Hebrew maiden, the admiration of the Chaldean shephi~.-ds and 
the pride of her kindred ; or of Rebecca, whom the " faithful steward of Abraham * 
journeyed to the land of Nahor and selected as the bride of Isaac, and wh^, it is 
eald, "was rery fair to look upon ;" or of Rachel, the beautiful shephcrde^-s who 
tended her fiithcr's flocks in the valley of Haran ; or of Merriam, Deborah. Jotha's 
Daughter, Delilah, Ruth, Queen of Sheba, the Shunamite, Esther, Elizabeth, v^irgin 
Mary, Dorcas, and others — will read a story far more interesting and attractive than 
any romance or novel. Every young lady in town should read this work ; ai>i we 
will venture to say that they will do so if they but once get hold of it, for it is a lMM>k 
that cannof, be laid aside.— Oswego Times. 



BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBX <t MILLER. 

The Life of Gen. Zachary Taylor, 12th Presidem 
of the United States, broiiglit down to his inauguration 
Steel portrait, 12mo., muslin; a new edition, by H. Mont 
gomerj. 81,25. 

*^* 18,000 of the above work have been sold by us. 

"The Life of Gen. Z. Taylor."— S". Montgomery^ Esq., editor of the Auburn 
Daily Advertiser, has found leisure, amid the multitude of his engagements, lo get 
up the most respectable looking and carefully prepared biography of the old General 
we have yet seen. It makes a neat volume, and is printed on excellent paper and 
new type, and bound in the very best style. It cannot fail to find a tremendous sale ; 
ft result due alike to the book itself, and the enterprise of its busy publishers. — 
Albany Evening Journal. 

" Life op General Zachary Taylor, by H. Montgomery,''^ is the latest and 
most complete of the numerous volumes purporting to be ' Lives' of the General. 
The author of this work — likewise editor of the Auburn Journal — is already known 
as a forcible and pleasing writer, handling his subject with a n'.asterly hand ; these 
characteristics are fully developed in the book before us. The stirring incidents of 
General Taylor's life, and the recent battles on Mexican soil are well portrayed — 
the very fair and impartial style of narration being a rare quality in depicting battle 
scenes. The book will repay an attentivs perusal. — N. Y. Tribune. 

The Life op Major General Zachary Taylor. By H. Montgomery.— 
Another and still another " illustrated " Life of the gi-eat American, (would that he 
had as many lives as the publishers give him,) the American whom Carlyle would 
recognise as " a hero" worthy of his pen's most eloquent recognition ; the man op 
DUTY in an age of Self. An American in everything ; in valor, in strong musculai 
sense ; in simplicity and directness and cordiality of feeling ; an American in everj 
thing, save in devotion to our new political God of Expediency. 

The volume before us is put forth in Auburn, by the editor of the Auburn Dail) 
Advertiser, whose vigorous, fluent style, and skill in compressing his materials. 
must make his elegant volume very generally acceptable. Many of the trait: 
ascribed to General Taylor have been assimilated by some of his admirers to tht. 
leading military characteristics of Frederick the Great. But, unlike Frederick 
Taylor is anything but a martinet in discipline ; and, though his movements of smal 
bodies of troops against vast odds, are characterized by the vigorous will and iroi. 
determination of Frederick, the arbitrary disposition of the Prussian despot is wholI> 
alien to his tolerant and candid nature. Taylor's atfectionate and almost parental 
relation to his soldiers, perhaps, alone first suggested the parallel, as we find it 
hinted in the following stanza of some verses upon one of his battles, quoted by Mr. 
Montgomery : 

" • Old Zach !' ' Old Zach !' the war cry rattles 

Among those men of iron tread. 
As rung ' Old Fritz' in Europe's battles 
When thus his host Great Frederick led." 

Literary Worui. 



BOOKS RECENTLY rUBLISHED BY DERBY & MILLER. 



History of the War with Mexico, from the com 
mencement of hostilities with the United States, to the 
ratification of Peace; embracing detailed accounts of the 
brilliant achievements of Generals Taylor, Scott, Worth, 
Wool, Twiggs, Kearney, and others; by John S. Jenkins, 
8yo., 20 illustratians, morocco gilt. $2,50. 

A History of the late war prepared for popular circulation The writer takes a 
patriotic view of his subject. His narrative of tlie conimeucement of the war would, 
we presume, not displease Mr. Polk. He follows the campaign throughout with 
industry and spirit, drawing from public documents, diplomatic correspondence, and 
tiic newspaper letter writers by the way. More facts, we believe, are brought 
togeilier than in any single publication of the kind. The narratives of adventure m 
California, Col. Doniphan's march, and other passages, are told with interest; the 
writer evidently seeking to make a useful book. The portraits and illustrations of 
Ecenes are numerous ; the mechanical execution of the whole work being highly 
creditable to the Auburn publishers. — Literary World. 

This is a volume of over 500 pages. The publishers have brought it out in excel- 
lent style. The paper, type, printing and binding, are admirable. The book has 
been written with due regard to accuracy, and in a popular style. It is the most 
elaborate, and probably llie best History of the War yet published. — Albany 
Evening Journal. 

We have been unable to notice, until now, this new work from the pen of the 
author of " The Generals of the last War with Great Britain, etc." In this volume 
we have at last a complete and interesting history of the late collision between the 
two Republics of the Continent. To a minute and detailed account of the position 
and policy of Mexico, the origin and causes of War, are added soul-stirring descrip- 
tions of the brilliant and successful engagements of our army with the enemy. This 
narrative is written after a carel'ul examination of the diplomatic correspondenco 
and the various publications, of a public or private character, that have appeared 
from time to time, calculated to throw light on the subject. To render the work 
Blili more interesting and desirable, it has been illustrated with portraits of the most 
distinguished officers of our own and the Mexican army, with views of the ever 
memorable battle-fields of Buena Vista and Cerro Gordo. The reputation of tha 
author will insure for this history a very general circulation.— .4/6ant/ Atlas. 



BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBY <fc MILLER. 

The American Fruit Culturist : Bj J. J. Thomas; 
containing directions for the propagation and culture of 
Fruit Trees, in the Nursery, Orchard, and Garden; with 
descriptions of the principal American and Foreign varieties 
cultivated in the United States: with oOO accurate illustra- 
tions. 1 volume, of over 400 pages, 12mo. $1,00. 

A cheaper, but- equally valuable book with Downiug's was wanted by the great 
mass. Just such a work has Mr. Thomas given us. We consider it an invaluable 
dddiiion to our agricultural libraries. — Wool Grower. 

We predict for it a very rapid sale ; it should be in ihe hands of every fruit growei 
and especially every nurseryman. It is a very cheap book for its price. — Ohio 
Cultivator. 

It is a most valuable work to all engaged in the culture of fruit ixees.— Utict- 
Herald. 

It is a book of great value. — Genesee farmer. 

Among all the writers on fruits, we do not know of one who is Mr. Thomas' 
ouperior, if his equal, in condensing important matter. He gets right at the pith of 
the thing — he gives you that which you wish to know at once ; stripped of all use- 
less talk and twattle. No man has a keener eye for the best ways of doing things. 
Hense we always look into his writings with the assurance that we shall find some- 
thing new, or some improvements on the old ; and we are seldom disappomted. 
This book is no exception. It is full. There is no vacant space in it. It is like a 
fresh egg— all good, and packed to the shell full.— Prairie Farmer. 

In the volume before us we have the result of the author's experience and obser- 
vations, continued with untiring pei-severance for many years, in language at once 
concise and perspicuous.— Albany Cultivator. 

We can say with confidence to our readers, that if you need a book to instruct you 
in the modes of growing trees, &c., from the first start, the systems of pruning, etc., 
etc., you will find the American Fruit Culturist an extremely valuable work. The 
million who purchase it, will find matter adapted to their wants, superior to any 
work as yet published. — Cleveland Herald. 

For sale in New York by M. H. NEWMAN & CO. and C. M. SAXTON. 
Boston, B. B. MUSSEY «fe CO. PhUadelphia, THOMAS, COWPERTHWAITE <k 
CO. 

I^F" Copies in paper covers sent by mail, free of expense, on receipt of $1,00 
po5t paid. Direct to DERBY & MILLER, 

5-1 ly -y^ 



BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBY & MILLER. 

The Life of the Empress Josephine, first vrife 
of Napoleon. By t*. C. Headley. 12mo., pp. 378. 
Derby, Miller & Co., Auburn, New York. 

There are few of the female characters of modern history whose lives abound with 
more interesting events than that of the Empress Josejjhine. Her whole course was 
one of romantic, and also of tragic interest. If the illustrious husband was eminent, 
far above all other men of his time, for vast intellect and prodigious achievements, 
Josephine seemed, in the more lofty and majestic traits of character, to transcend the 
most distinguished of her female cotemporaries. Like her husband, she is a great 
subject for biography. Many memoirs have been written of her, possessing more or 
less merit, but none have been without interest. The author of the present book has, 
we think, been very successful. It is by far the most interesting history of Josephine 
that we have yet seen." He seems to have had recourse to the best sources for hi3 
materials, which he has combined and put together with skill and judgment. His 
Btyle is flowing, elegant, and often eloquent. In short, it is a book well worth read- 
ing. It will not fail to attract the public attention. As to the mechanical execution 
of the book, it is but justice to the proprietors to say, that it will compare favorably 
with the productions of the press of any city in the Union. It contams a fine mezzo- 
lint portrait of Josejjhine, showing a beauty of person equalled only by the moral 
grandeur of her character. — Washington Union. 

It is not without its sparkling gems. Occasional flashes of thought make the rea- 
der pause to contemplate their~freshness and beauty, and reveal a well-stored mind 
in sympathy with the noblest human traits, in close communion with the glories of 
nature. His text, too, is happily chosen. Who lias not felt a lingering, peculiar, 
undefinable interest in the highly extraordinary and tragic career of the Empress 
Josephine 1 Would it not extend "this notice too far, we should like to touch the more 
prominent of the many eventful passages which marked the history of this remark- 
able child of superstition, to gaze for a moment upon the vascillaling star of her des- 
tiny, and trace its luminous ascent from the veriest depths of agonizing gloom and 
despair, to the loftiest i)inacle of worldly splendor and renown, where she grasped 
for a moment the fleeting phantom of happiness, only to sink again into the arms of 
misfortune, and feel still more keenly tiie bitter pangs of adversity. But all this will 
be found in a very readable form in this interesting volume, and we cheerfully com- 
mend it to notice. — Utica Observer. 

We do not know of a biography of this important and interesting personage, so 
complete in its historic details, and so congenial to the spirit of her life, as this : 
while it has also the advantage of a popular style, and of that view of the subject 
which accords with the general sentiment. Mr.Headley writes in a clear, well-sus- 
tained and engaging style— evidently entertaining a warm approbation of his subject, 
and alive to the sublimity and purity of her life. Treating of one of the most impor- 
tant epochs of French history, the work is finely adapted to enlist the interest of the 
reader, and to supply a kind and degree of information not readily accessible else- 
where. It can hardly fail of proving a highly popular, as it is a highly creditable 
work.— iV. y. Evangelist. 

The writer of this book is a brother of J. T. Headley, the author of" Napoleon and 
his Marshals" -" Washington and his Generals," &c. There is a strong family re- 
semblance between the two. The qualities which have given such a wide celebrity 
to the one, seem to be fully enjoyed by the other. Both brothers are characterized 
by that peculiar vividness and, so to speak, intensity of style which always makes a 
book readable and interesting. The " Life of Josephine" possesses much of this pe- 
culiar charm. The author has studied his subject well and could hardly have chosen 
a better one to write upon. Josephine is a charmed name to many hearts. There 
are few who do not feel an interest in her singularly eventful career. At first the 
daughter of a West India planter, — then the wife of a French nobleman,— anon ti\d 
consort of Gen. Bonaparte and afterwards Empress of France; — her picture presents 
us with a scene of constantly increasing brightness, where the dark shades never 
chase away the light, till we behold her ending a career of dazzling splendor as a de- 
throned Empress and repudiated wife. Josephine was in many respects a model of » 
ytaaaxi.— Amherst Express. 



BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBY & MILLER. 

The Lives of Mary and Martha, mother and 
wife of Washington : by Margaret C. Conkiing, 
with a steel porti-ait, ISmo, scarlet cloth. 

Miss CoNKLiNG, who is a daughter ef Judge Conkimg of Auburn, is favorably 
known as the auiiior of IIarj)er's iranslaiion of '' Flunan's History ol the Moors 
oi Spain." She also wrote " Isabel, or the Trials of the Heart." In the prc])aratJo;i 
oi' the pretty little volume she has done a praiseworthy deed, and we hope she wili 
receive t)ie reward she merits. She has taught us in the work 
" how divine a thing 
A woman may be made." 

The mother and wife of Washington were, in many respects, model women, and 
the daughters of America will do well to study their character — which is hnely 
drawn on these pages. — Literary Messenger. 

This beautifully printed and elegantly bound little work, reflecting the highest 
credit upon the skill and task of the publishers, contains biographical sketches of 
Mary, the mother, and Martha, the wiie of the Father of his country. It is a most 
valuable contribution to the history of the American people, embracing not only the 
great public events of the century during which the subjects lived, but those pictures 
of home life, and that exhibition of social manners and customs, which constitute 
the most important part of lil'e, but which, from the (act of their apj)arent triviality 
and intangibiiuy, the historian generally passes over. The authoress evidently 
sympathises earnestly with her subject, and feels tiiat in the exhibition ol those 
womanly virtues which char;t.cterized the heroines ol' lier narrative, she makes the 
most eloquent plea in favor of the dignity of her sex. It is dedicated to Mrs. Wm 
H. Sewakd, and contains a finely executed engraving of the wile of Washington. 
We cordially commend it to the public, and most especially oiu- lady readers.— 
Syracuse Journal. 

This acceptable and well written volume goes forth upon a happy mission, 

" To teach us how divine a thing 

A woman may be made," 
by unfolding those charms of cliaracter which belong to the mother and wife of the 
hero of the Land of the Free ; and in the companionship of which, while they illus- 
trated the watchful tenderness of a mother, and the conliding atlections of a wile, 
is shown those iulluences which made up the moral sentiments of a man, whose 
moral grandeur will be felt in all that is future in government or divine in 
philosophy ; and one whose name is adored by all nations, as the leader of man in 
in the progress of government, to that perfection of human rights where all enjoy 
liberty and equality. To say that flliss Conkiing has fulfilled the task she says a 
"too partial friendship has assigned her" faultlessly, would perhaps be too 
unmeasured praise, for perfection is seldom attained ; but it will not be denied but 
that her biographies are traced in the chaste elegances that belong to the finished 
periods of a refined style, which fascinates the reader with what she has thus contri- 
buted to our national literature. 

The design of the volume is, to picture a mother fitting the " Father of his 
Country '- in a light full of the inexhaustible nobleness of woman's nature, and yet 
as possessing thai subdued and quiet simplicity, where Truth becomes the Hope on 
which Faith looks at the future with a smile. The mother ol' Washington was 
tried in a school of practice where frugal habits and active industry were combined 
with the proverbial excellences of those Virginia matrons, who were worthy mothers 
of such men as Washington, Jelferson, Marshall, and Henry. Miss C. has pictured 
with fidelity and elegance, her views of this remarkable woman ; not less beauii- 
fuUy has she sketched the character of Martha, the wife ; following her from her 
brilliant manners as tl-ie Virginia belle, through the various phases of her life, she 
gives a rapid but comprehensive view of those characteristics which make up the 
quiet refinement of manners native to her, and which ever gave her the reputation 
of an accomplished wife and lady. And with peculiar delicacy Miss Conkiing haa 
portrayed the thousand virtues with which she embellished a home ; her amiable 
disposition and winning manners made the happiest to the purest and best of al. 
jaen fame has chosen for its noblest achievments.— Syracuse Star. 



BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBY <Si MILLER. 

The Odd Fellows' Amulet : or the principles of Odd 
Fellowship defined ; the objections to the order answered ; 
and its advantages maintained ; with an addi'ess to the pub- 
lic, the ladies, and the order. By Rev. D. W. Bristol, Pas- 
tor of the M. E. Church, and P. G. of Osco Lodge, No. 304, 
at Auburn, IST. Y. 

The Rev. Mr. Bristol, the author of the above work, is a popular clergyman of tha 
Methodist church. He appears to have written the work not merely for Odd FellowSj 
but to disabuse the public mind, if possible, of prejudices formed against the Order. 
A spirit and design of apparent sincerity appears to pervade the entire work, and the 
writer discusses his themes and meets the objections urged against Odd Fellows, with 
a great deal of candor and respect. No person, we think, can read it, whatever may 
have been his prejudices hitherto, without having those prejudices at least, conside- 
rably softened, if not wholly taken away. The style of the writer is captivating, 
while the arrangement and classification of his subjects adds interest to the volume. 
We have no hesitancy in recommending the Amulet as a book that may be read by 
the public. — Genesee Evangelist. 

We have wiled away several hours pleasantly and profitably in its perusal, and can 
recommend it as a work deserving of a large circulation. The principles of the Or- 
der are set forth by its auihor, the Rev. D. W. Bristol, a distinguished Methodist 
clergyman, in a masterly manner, objections instituted by many to the Order, are 
fairly tested, and answered in a mild and satisfactory way. It is a cheap and useful 
v/ork, and we cheerfully recommend it to public favor.— M/rro?- of the Times. 

Able and exceedingly interesting articles, that we would most cordially commend 
to the attention of every reader, while we are gratified at being able to bring them 
under the notice of members of the great Order. The work contains also Addresses 
by Rev. D. W. Bristol, and is embellished with several fine Steel Engravings. Fully 
and correctly defining the principles of O. F., it should fill a niche in the library of 
every Odd Fellow, where it will furnish a mine of valuable matter whence he can 
draw at all times for the facts illustrative of the great principles of the noble institu 
lion of Odd Fellowship. — Golden Rule. 

It is an excellent work, and worthy of the patronage of the Order. The objections 
often urged against our institution, are most thoroughly exammed, and ably answer- 
ed. The book is got up in good style, and is offered at a low price.— 27*6 Ark. 

We should think that every lover of the Order which this book upholds would 
adorn his library with it ; and every person that is opposed to it should also have 
one so that they could see their objections answered. We would say to every lover 
of the poor and afflicted, buy one and peruse it for yourselves and see what the Odd 
Fellows do for them. Its motto is " Do unto others as ye would have others do unto 
you."— T^Ae Bee. 

This is a clear, forcible, and well written exposition of the subjects above named > 
and a book that every Odd Fellow in the country should be in possession of. The 
work is well got up, and embellished with several fine engravings appropriate to the 
subject of which it treats. It is sold at the low price of one dollar^ and can be mailed 
to any part of the United States.— £a»ner of the Union. 



BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBY 4 MILLER. 

The Young Man's Book : or Lectures for the Times 
By William W. Patton. One 12mo. voL 

The lectures contained in this volume are not made up of merely common placa 
remarks. They are elevates! in sentiment, chaste in style, and impressive in manner. 
No person who reads the volume can fail to pi'otit by it, or to admire the evangelical 
views and elegant language of the author. The work deserves to be a favorite with 
young men.— Norther7i Christian Advocate. 

It is a genial, earnest, manly book. The author is himself a remarkable example 
of independent thinking and philanthropic feeling. The bugle note which he sounds 
to young men is no uncertain sound. He goes with his whole soul for bettering the 
world, where he thinks it bad, and few of the young men who heard his lectures oi 
shall read his book, will not be strongly inclined to go with him. We cordially advise 
all young men who are anxious to do and be something in this universe, to cultivate 
an acquaintance with Mr. Patton or his hook.— Boston Chronotype. 

There are seven lectures in this volume devoted to subjects rather unusual in a 
work of this kind, and having the impress of earnest feeling and reflection. That 
Bome of the points are overstated does not detract from the exceeding value and im- 
portance of most of the views presented- all the more important because so infre- 
quently attended to in the pulpit, or in works designed for the young. The book i.s 
written in a perspicuous and forcible style, and both from its matter and spirit is 
likely to become popular and useful. — Neio York Evangelist. 

This is an excellent book— excellent in its purpose, in its execution, and in its 
adaptation to the present day. In some respects this book di tiers from all kindred 
works that we have seen. As a writer Mr. Patton is lucid, earnest, and direct, never 
obscure and seldom other than forcible. Regarded merely as a literary perlbrmance 
we must pronounce these lectures highly creditable. Their timely and important 
moral inculcations should commend them more especially to the friends of religion 
and entitle them to a place in every christian household. — Charter Oak. 

These are able and earnest lectures to young men, delivered to the author's con 
gregation in Hartford, and contain many valuable considerations and glowing appeals 
to rouse the youth to diligence, courage, and faith in the struggle of life. — New York 
Observer. 

The counsels, warnings, and encouragements, to the young, contained in this vol- 
ume, are, as desisned, adapted to the times. It is interesting in its style as well as 
matter, and cannot fail to profit that class to whom it is addressed.— 7'Ae {Boston) 
Puritan. 

The author of these lectures is himsel f a young man. He has addressed those of 
his own age, not with the stern reproof or grave counsel of a father, but with the af- 
fectionate entreaty, kind, yet faithful warning of a brother. The subjects of the lec- 
tures are judiciously selected and cannot fail of doing good to those wlio are soon to 
bear the burdens and responsibilities of society.— Boston Recorder. 

A volume of lectures, seven in number, on subjects of vast importance, and writ- 
ten with much force. The book will profit those who read it. — New York Co77imer- 
cial Advertiser. 

The lectures were delivered on Sabbath evenings to densely crowded audiences, 
and were spoken of in terms of high praise at the time. At the request of many who 
heard them they are now published. The lectures are valuable, containing a vast 
amount of goodadvice and information for that class of persons for whom they were 
originally designed, and in a time like the present, when pernicious literature ap- 
pears to be the order of the day, they are still mors acceptable.— (i7ar//br<i) Chris- 
tian Secretary. 

We can positively say that the object of the work is most praiseworthy, the sub- 
jects treated of are im))ortant, the counsels it contains are weighty, and are enforced 
in a happy style with a spirit well calculated to gain the attention of those who are 
addressed. — Hartford (Ct.) Courant. 

In design and execution it is worthy to go side by side with the late popvlar ane" 
widely circulated work known as Beacher's LectQres to Young Men. The fifth lee 
ture is well suited to our columns and we hope to give it a place ere long.— iV. Y 
Advocate and Family Guardian. 



The American Lady's System o£ Cookery, com- 
prising every variety of information for ordinary and Holiday 
occasions. By ]Mrs. T. J. Crovten. 

The "American System of Cookery " is a capital book of its class, and for which 
we bespeak the good word of all thrifty housekeepers. It introduces us into a wil- 
derness of sweets, where no rude surfeit reigns! The almost innumerable variety of 
good things, clearly and orderly set forth, is most apetizing for the hungry reader, 
just before dinner. 

Here is an American housewife, sensible and thrifty, who has laid down directions 
for making all sorts of dishes, baking all kinds of cakes and pies, manufacturing every 
variety of confectionery, preserving, pickling, «Src., so plainly that a housekeeper of 
a week's standing can easily act upon her directions, and yet taken so comprehensive 
a sco]>e, that the very best and most skilful will find something new. We take for 
granted, that as the latest, it is the best book of its class. 

The vvnter of this volume has previously published a similar work, on a smaller 
scale — " Every Lady's Book" — of which more than two hundred thousand copies are 
said to have been sold. If this is not populaiity, we know not what is.— Literary 
World. 

The "American System of Cookery," is the title of a goodly sized duodecimo, pub- 
lished in New York. The authoress of this work has obtained considerable celebrity, 
by a work which she entitled " Every Lady's hook," and we believe she will add tc 
her deserved credit by the present volume, which conies home to the stomach of 
every man. The receipts are abundant and practical. — North American. 

Of all the reforms, none is more loudly called for than one in American Cookery— 
that being one in which everybody is mterested. That the national health would be 
belter, if the national kitchen were more philosophically and phyorologically mana- 
ged, there seems to be no doubt anywhere. Even morals suffer, beyond question, 
through the influence of crude, ill-selected aliment. Who knows but the Mexicix- 
war may be traced to an ill-cooked, ill-assorted, contradictory, and irritating cabint^o 
dinner 7 

A Lady of New York tells us how to make a great many nice, wholesome thmgS; 
and we beg our readers not to imagine we speak rashly, or even theoretically, upon 
this all-important subject— we have tasted, and we testify without a misgiving. " The 
proof of the pudding," etc. — Union Magazine. 

Thus our wife settles the question. The same author's " Every Lady's Book," she 
said, might be useful for some folks, but the real simon pure, Yankee, American 
Cook Book, was the thing exactly, just such a book as she should have made, if she 
had cooked it up herself. She says it is made on common sense principles ; the rulea 
are exactly such as sensible folks follow in this democratic land, who regard taste, 
health, and economy. Our wife says, that, with some Cook Books, one has to deduct 
half the spice, shortning and sugar. Our book, however, as our wife declares, i3 
practicable, and is to be followed to the letter .—Central Washingtonian News. 

This book is compiled by a person of practical knowledge of the subject, who, as 
stated in the preface, has been for the last eight years employed in collecting infor- 
mation on the subject of the work, and in reducing to practice the receipts obtained. 
— Evening Post. 

By the spiciness of the preface, and by the very funny epistle with which the au- 
thoress of this book sends us a copy, we cannot doubt her to be a woman of talent ; 
and as Mrs. Child has applied her "genins to the making of such a book, we can be- 
lieve even a Cooking Book may be belter for genius in the writer.— jyome Journal. 

This appears to be the most complete and satisfactory collection of receipts m the 
culinary art, which the skill and enterprise of American ladies, devoted to the subject, 
have produced. It contains a large amount of matter in a volume of very good size, 
as a manual, and we have confidence, from the decided testimony of those who have 
tested its merits, in recommending it to house-keepers.— Pro^esZanf Churchman, 



BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY DERBY & MILLER. 

G-olden Steps to Respectability, Usefulness and 
Happiness ; being a series of Lectures to the youth of 
both sexes on Character, Principles, Associates, Amuse- 
ments, Rehgion, and Marriage. By John Mather Austin. 
Derby, Miller & Co., Auburn, 1850. 243 pp. 

The author of this book is a writer of superior attraction, and has here selected a 
subject of deep interest. Could the youth of the country be induced to exchange the 
Buntline, Lippard, and Ingraham literature of the day, for such reading as this, the 
benefits to themselves and society would be incalculable. — Lockport Courier. 

We honor the heart of the writer of this volume as well as his head. He has here 
addressed an earnest and manly aj^peal to the young, every page of which proves his 
sincerity and his desire for their welfare. The subjects treated of in the diflerent lec- 
tures are those indicated on the title page. Integrity and virtue, usefulness, truth 
and honor, are the " Golden Steps " by which the young may ascend to respectability, 
usefulness, and happiness. We trust the seed thus sown will not be without its fruit, 
and that his readers will imbibe the spirit of the motto he has chosen — 
" Onward ! onward ! toils despising. 
Upward ! upward ! turn thine eyes, 
Only be content when rising, 
Fix thy goal amid the skies." 
^Albany State Register. 

The work of Mr. Austin, written in a pleasing style, and nervous and pointed in it» 
argumentation, will hold a prominent position among the fortunate endeavors by 
which the rising generation are to be influenced. The volume before us is beautiful 
in its exterior, and this, combined with the aim of the author, in which he has admi- 
rably succeeded, will give it a wide range, and secure for it, we hope, an invaluable 
influence.— ^u^a^o Christian Advocate. 

A plain, familiar, forcible exposition of the duties and responsibilities of Youth, 
which can hardly be read without exerting a salutary and lasting influence. Judging 
from the popularity of Mr. Austin's former works, we predict for it a wide circula- 
tion.-— iVcu? York Tribune. 

If the precepts eloquently and forcibly urged in these pages could be brought homo 
and impressed upon the minds of the mass of youth in our land, they would confei 
lasting and incalculable benefits upon the rising generation. We cordially commend 
this work to the attention of the young and all who have charge of them. 

The publishers have executed their work admirable, and have brought out an ele 
gant and beautiful book. Their work will compare favorably with any of the Ne\» 
York houses.— TVoy Post. 

The following extract has reference to iha " golden steps" of the Presideat of th 
raited States, Millard Fillmore :— (See page 69.) 



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